Enjoy the moment: Class of 2025 graduates from Chelsea High School
Published 4:02 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Chelsea students celebrate graduating on Tuesday, May 20 by tossing their caps in the air during a special graduation ceremony at Samford University. (Reporter photo/Alec Etheredge)
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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher
HOMEWOOD – Playing the piano since the age of 4 and eventually picking up the guitar, it was only fitting that Chelsea High School Valedictorian Chloe Anderson tied music into her commencement speech during the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 20.
Standing inside the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University, she quickly went to the song “Vienna” by Billy Joel, urging her fellow graduating seniors to enjoy the moment and what’s ahead.
Starting with the first line, “Slow down you crazy child, you’re so ambitious for a juvenile,” Anderson said that line asks us to slow down and savor the moment, an idea that gets lost, especially during senior year.
“The song reminds us that life isn’t a race,” she said. “I want to remind you all that it is OK to slow down, take a breath and enjoy the moment. Even though we are here now, at that finish line, we don’t need to have our entire future planned out already.”
She also brought up the line, “You better cool it off before you burn it out.”
“Burn out is something many of us, including myself, have faced in the last four years,” she said. “The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming, but today proved something important—we pushed through. You should be proud of your accomplishments. Most graduation speeches are focused on chasing your dreams full speed ahead, but I think that ‘Vienna’ flips the narrative. Chase your dreams, but there is no shame in taking the scenic route.”
It was that message of perseverance and having the courage to push through to work your hardest that Chelsea High School Principal Brandon Turner honed in on during his speech.
He said that we often hear about going and doing great things, but what does that mean when translated to students embarking on a new journey, adding that the keys to doing great fall on aspiration, planning and courage.
“Aspiration is the desire and capacity to see your world and want to be a positive influence for it in big ways and small, going above societal expectations and seeking ways to strive toward your goals,” Turner said. “Once you have the vision, you can see what goals you have with planning. Now, you have to have the courage to take the steps to consider how to make it happen. Seek help if necessary, set the goals and follow through to work and meet them. This is where you lay the foundation.”
Of his three components to being great, he said courage is by far the most important.
“You have to have the courage to step out, sometimes in the face of doubt from others and sometimes ourselves,” he said. “When you feel the odds are overwhelming and insurmountable, having the courage to go forward because you know the undertaking of your vision and your dream is worthwhile and meaningful will be important. What you are going to find is that the worthwhile things, the things that truly matter in life, they are not easy and it takes courage to see them through.”
He added that having great character brings all three together and emphasized the past four years showed the character and resolve each graduate has.
“This day represents the sum of your hard work, building relationships, achieving in multiple areas and all of the many other accomplishments that you’ve had as a graduating class, both collectively and individually,” he said. “I always enjoy reflecting as I write these remarks because ultimately, while it’s a time for celebration, it’s a time for being happy about our accomplishments, it’s also important to consider the hope and excitement for your journey ahead.”
For senior class president Patrick Maddox, the excitement of what is ahead outweighs the sadness of high school being behind.
“Yes, today might be a day that this chapter in each one of our books closes,” he said. “But the great thing is that we get to start writing the next chapter tomorrow. The greatest part about this chapter closing is that we get to look back on the memories we created. Without Chelsea High School, we wouldn’t have any of them.
Salutatorian Madison Riddle built on that by giving the senior class some advice ahead of this next step.
“As you embark on your new journey, I want you to remind yourself of your authenticity and the character you uphold yourself to,” she said. “Do the work you are proud of and know that everything you do is your best and that your authenticity is your greatest strength. No one else can do what you do.”
Riddle added that success will follow if you hold yourself to a high standard and live up to your expectations.
“Let your reflection in the mirror be shaped by the decisions you make and the values you hold, not by expectations of others,” she said. “Put your best effort into everything you do and put your heart into everything you cherish most.”
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