Goldsboro High graduates receive diplomas
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 14, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Josephine Grant, Goldsboro High School Class of 2015 historian, sheds tears of joy while giving the invocation at the GHS graduation Friday.
Cougar pride poured out of the auditorium at Goldsboro High School Friday night as the 116 members of the graduating Class of 2015 walked one-by-one across the stage to receive their diplomas.
College is the next step for many of the now former students. As a whole, the corps of graduates secured $2,256,892 in scholarships, grants and aid.
"This is my fourth year at Goldsboro High School, first as assistant principal and now as principal for two years. So this was the freshman class when I first got here," principal Brian Weeks said. "It's been interesting to watch them all grow."
Valedictorian Waverlea Brown, 16, and Salutatorian N'Dea Celious, 17, are both third-year graduates, meaning they accomplished in three years what takes the average student four years to complete.
"We had to put in extra work, take extra classes. It was a lot," Miss Brown said.
In the fall, she will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then it is on to medical school.
"I want to be a pediatrician. I've always loved children. Since fifth grade I have known that is the career I've wanted to pursue," Miss Brown said.
Miss Celious, on the other hand, has her eyes set on another field of science -- criminal forensics.
"I'll go to Drexel University in the fall in Philadelphia and study criminology. I want to be a crime scene investigator," she said. She hopes to ply her trade in New York City after graduating college.
In her address, Miss Celious reminded her classmates that nothing is impossible if they believe in themselves. A year younger than most of her fellow graduates, she did not shy away from challenging them to demand more from themselves.
"Don't let anyone stop you, or tell you you can't," she said. "If you want to do it, you can do it."
Miss Brown said she tried to avoid the typical phrases used in graduation speeches, including the "the mostly common used statement" -- "We are the leaders of tomorrow."
While some people might mark high school as the best years of their lives, in truth, they are just the best years for the moment, Miss Brown said.
And while there have been many great things about GHS -- including the many people with different and unique personalities -- the Class of 2015 was on the threshold of even greater things ahead.
"It's not enough to simply try to get by in life," she said. "You must try to excel in everything you do -- strive for excellence in every task, large or small. No matter what your future endeavors may be, let the resulting success boost your happiness level, and never settle for what you are not overjoyed with. It is these experiences that will mark the ultimate remarkable years of your life."
Following Pomp and Circumstance, parents, friends and family members met their graduates outside the auditorium with flowers, balloons and gift bags.
Tears flowed between hugs and group photos. Most said they would be going to dinner or having parties this weekend.
One man, with two armfuls of balloons held in outstretched arms, waited patiently for his son to work his way to him.
Carlos Santos then hugged his son, DeCarlos Santos, 18, leaving one arm over his shoulders as they turned to make their way through the crowd.
The younger Santos will attend Fayetteville Technical Community College in the fall and study music and business.
"He did something I didn't do," his father said. "I am very proud. I am past proud."