CHHS seniors say farewell, look towards future

The expressions on the faces of the Charles Henderson High School Class of 2013 were numerous. Some students beamed from ear to ear with smiles, others had tears in their eyes and there were even a few perplexed faces thinking “What do I do now?”

Charles Henderson High School held its fifty-fourth graduation and commencement exercises at Sartain Hall Thursday evening. Over 130 students took the first steps of the next part of their lives as they walked across the stage and accepted diplomas.

Charles Henderson principal Dr. Boyd English said that this year’s senior class had “forever changed the landscape” of the school and community.

“This group has left their mark, academically and athletically, on every part of the state of Alabama and the nation,” said English. “They will all go on to do great things in whatever they chose to do.”

Several members of the Charles Henderson Class of 2013 said that they were excited and nervous about what lay in front of them

“It’s not going to be the school itself that I will miss,” said Greyson Motes. “It will be the people that I have spent the majority of my life with that I will miss. I know that we will do great things, but we are all ready for the next step.”

Ashley Wilson agreed with her classmate.

“I know that tonight is the last time I will see some of my classmates, so it is kind of bittersweet,” Wilson said.

“We have spent years together, and tonight marks the end of a chapter.”

Valedictorian Olivia Hudson and Salutatorian Lisa Baugh asked the class to keep in touch no matter where the future takes them.

Hudson also reminded her classmates to strive to forge their own path in the busy, fast paced world.

“Strive to leave a trail that others will be proud to follow,” said Hudson. “We are the leaders of tomorrow.”