Spring Creek graduation held
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 12, 2016 1:45 AM
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A group of Spring Creek High School graduates toss their graduation caps high in the air after receiving their diplomas on Saturday morning.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Cassie Alphin has always hated endings -- be it a book, camp or even summer.
Graduation could also fall into that category, the salutatorian and student body president at Spring Creek High School admitted during commencement ceremonies Saturday morning.
It was an occasion she has been dreading for some time, she told the audience in Kornegay Arena at the University of Mount Olive.
"I suppose it's because I do not like change, or endings, or goodbyes," she said. "And that is what today is all about -- our lives are about to change because this is the end of our time together."
The end of high school, and childhood, culminated in bittersweet poignancy, but also represented the beginning of the 154 graduates' lives.
"These past four years have flown by so quickly that sometimes I wish that we could've just stopped and enjoyed it more, because 20 years from now, the thing we will remember the most is the people we shared the hallways of 'the Creek' with," she said.
Valedictorian Auston Gray challenged his classmates to examine the legacy they were leaving behind -- whether they were a stellar student or "just someone who floated through school."
He offered up Muhammad Ali as an example, citing his famous quotes, like "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth," then apologized to the entire English department for most likely not quoting it correctly.
"All of us will leave some kind of legacy in our lives," he said. "As Albert Pine once said, 'What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.'"
Both Gray and Miss Alphin are heading off to N.C. State University in the fall. He plans to study engineering, while she will pursue creative writing, with aspirations of becoming a writer or college professor.
It was a day of mixed emotions, as the Class of 2016 reminisced about the years that led up to graduation, exchanged hugs and welcomed family and friends to share in the celebration.
Joshua Best had an assortment of relatives lending support. His dad from Greensboro. Sisters from Clinton. A contingent from Lillington.
"This is my immediate family," he said, pointing out younger sister, Des'Zirae Atkinson, his mother, Victoria Atkinson, and grandmother, Vera Watkins, all from Goldsboro.
Tickets were at a premium, but somehow Best managed to swing enough for his family to gain admission.
"They gave us 10 tickets. I didn't want to be selfish," he said, explaining that he took a chance and let it be known he would welcome anyone's extras. Some classmates tried to charge for the effort, he said with a laugh.
Suleima Huerta, Jennifer Diaz, Makayla Hartley and Cynthia Guevera were more reticent about the day.
Miss Huerta and Miss Diaz are heading off to Wayne Community College in the fall, studying to become registered nurses.
"I'm not doing anything, but I think I'm going to go to school to be a photographer," Miss Hartley said.
Miss Guevera said she is interested in going to a police academy in Virginia, where her brother lives.
The newly minted graduating class has been a special one, Miss Diaz said.
"It got closer during senior year," she said.
Joshua Singleton, agriculture teacher at the school for the past two years, is also an alumnus. He graduated from Spring Creek in 2006.
"This class was a pleasure to work with," he said.
Graduate Kayla Blackburn will be going to WCC next year, studying phlebotomy.
"I'm planning on going to Wayne for two years," said classmate Victoria Holland, still undecided beyond that.
"Get a job," hinted her dad, Mike Holland.
"I'm nervous," Miss Blackburn said before lining up for the ceremony. "I didn't eat breakfast so I wouldn't get sick on stage."
"They ain't used to being up this early," Mike Holland said with a laugh.
Jonathan Zapata had the longest wait of all, though, as his was the last name called.
"It's pretty awesome. My first memory of going to kindergarten, going every day, and now it stops right here. Except it doesn't stop here," he said, correcting himself. "Going to college will be just as amazing as going to school."
He plans to attend the Art Institute of Durham, pursuing culinary arts.
Before that chapter officially begins, though, he has plans for the summer.
"I'm going to find work so I can pay for (college). I don't want to be in debt," he said.