Danville graduates urged to find purpose beyond careers

The members of Danville’s Class of 2026 were asked to find their purpose during graduation ceremonies Sunday.

While some may think that means their job or career, Valedictorian Addyson Bocock stressed it’s much more than that.

“How can you use your gifts to create a better world and a better future for you, your family and future generations,” Bocock told the 43 members of the class during Sunday's commencement ceremony. “The truth is our gifts were never meant to exist only for ourselves. Real fulfillment comes when we use what we have been given to serve others, encourage others, and make a positive impact on the people around us.”

Bocock, who admitted she never would have dreamed she would be valedictorian and speaking in front of her classmates, talked about the unique talents that each member of the class possesses. From athleticism, dedication, creativity and knowledge to kindness, artistic skills or the ability to nurture others, Bocock said her classmates are all gifted in their own unique way.

“The point is that everyone is different and gifted in unique ways. And because of those differences, we all have traits that are equally valuable to others,” she said.

Salutatorian Samuel Lyons also touched on the uniqueness of the class and the path they have forged as they traversed through 12 years of schooling.

“We’ve faced challenges, adapted to change and learned lessons that go far beyond the textbook,” Lyons said. “In a few months, we’ll be in different places, meeting new people and experiencing things we can’t even predict. Even though that can feel a little overwhelming, it’s also what makes this moment special. As we move forward, we won’t follow the same path. … But no matter where we are or what we do, we will always be connected by this school and all the experiences we had here.”

The 43 members of the class went through the typical commencement exercises, from songs from the choir and band to listening to those speeches to turning the tassel after receiving their diploma.

While going through that, they were given one final lesson from English teacher and commencement speaker Hunter Webster. Webster talked of how they spent 13 years of their lives chasing this one dream – a high school diploma.

“What’s the point of this?” he asked. The point is simple — you learn stuff. You learn skills that will help you after graduation; you learn how to be a better person; and you learn a lot of stuff that, let’s be honest, you’re probably going to forget when you wake up tomorrow morning. Even those things are important — it was all important. Here’s why. You have to learn how to listen.”

Webster said learning to listen helps you understand others and how to grow as a person.

“Whether you failed or succeeded, the one thing you gained from each of those experiences was the knowledge that in order to accomplish your goals, you’d have to work harder or try a different way," he said. "That’s not a lesson that ends with high school. Learning something new is always worth the challenge.

“So as you head out to the world and continue this lifelong journey in learning, never forget what your diploma truly represents when it comes to what you achieved in your time at Danville. And more importantly, never stop learning new things, even if those things are just stuff.”