The Arlington High School Class of 2010 is history. So how shall we remember it? One way is through the words key students spoke that cloudy Sunday, June 13, at Peirce Field. Below are addresses from four speakers.

We shall remember what occurred that day and the names of all who graduated. See them here:

Graduation program, class of 2010, faculty 

We shall also recall those who were honored:

Awards Night, June 4, 2010

Now read what the students had to say:

From jubilee of success to utter failure, carry your candle

Zachary C. Lee, Student Council President

Good afternoon, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, teachers, and good afternoon, Arlington High School class of 2010. Together, we made it, we made it even though we had our backs up against the walls.

Through our victories in the classrooms, the auditorium stage, and the athletic fields, to our defeats in those exact same places -- we have experienced the jubilee of success and the utter disappointment of failure.

However, through the ups and downs, we have had each other, day in and day out.

As we all know, high school is a place of learning. There’s the academic stuff, taking notes and writing papers. There’s the social stuff, like meeting people and building relationships. and then there's everything you learn about yourself. Your eyes are opened up, and you become aware that there’s more out there than what you’ve been previously exposed to.

Interests are born and fed. There are so many outlets and opportunities for you to find yourself, such as taking part in new activities and organizations, opening new doors that were previously left shut. And the greatest thing about high school is that in the years prior, these doors would have simply gone unnoticed. In high school, you find that you’re going to meet people who initially don’t seem like a good match, not that there's any negative feelings toward each other, just a sense that you don’t share enough in common. However, in high school, you are often surprised by the friendships that are forged through clubs, organizations, teams, and service groups. These things are what made these past four years special, the friendships that are fueled by common interests, and not just the desire to be like everyone else and do what everyone else does.

If you ask any of the faculty around here at Arlington High School, they will tell you that our class is simply full of good kids who genuinely care about the people around them and the world around them. They will tell you of kids who volunteered to help rebuild houses in New Orleans, they will tell you of kids who offered their time working with the less fortunate in Mexico and they will tell you of kids who volunteer to teach dancing lessons to children for free.

I remember our very first day of football as freshman. Being a newcomer to the school and having not gone to the Ottoson, I only had a handful of friends from elementary school and I was intimidated by the idea of meeting so many new kids. Despite my anxieties, immediately I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome I received. Within the first 5 minutes, every player on the team that I did not know had introduced themselves and I knew every kid's name on the team. In my first football practice at Arlington High School, I was being welcomed by my future teammates as if I was a celebrity of lady Gaga's status. However, this welcome that I received was not of a bad romance, but it was a display of pure friendliness and benevolence that embodies this class that is graduating today.

I cannot begin to list the other times that have illustrated this sincere kindness that is existent in every person in our class. When I think back to these last 4 years I think back to the packed stands in support of our athletic teams, the overflowing auditorium in support of our fine arts performances, and Mike T's "are all friends?!" speech on the senior cruise.

The kindness that I experienced from you guys was not a one time thing that I found in one person, but it was a common denominator that i observed throughout all the people in our grade. Through my experiences, I was enlightened to the truth of the quote by Marianne Williamson that was made famous by my favorite character in Coach Carter: Timo Cruz.

Marainne and Timo said “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

You, my friends at Arlington High School, have subconsciously given me the green light to become who I am today, and you have given me the liberty to “let my own light shine”. Let me tell you, your kindness has not gone unnoticed by me, nor will it go unnoticed wherever life takes you next year and beyond. Remember to smile and welcome everyone that you meet just like you welcomed me onto the freshman football team and just how you welcomed me into Arlington High School. Just as it says in the song “Go light your world,”

So Carry your candle, (class of 2010) run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world…..just as you lit up my world.

Photos by Richard G. Swartz.  All rights reserved.