The next chapter: Thompson celebrates class of 2025 at graduation
Published 5:04 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Thompson seniors from the class of 2025 graduated during a special ceremony on Tuesday, May 20 inside Bartow Arena. (Reporter photo/Alec Etheredge)
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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher
BIRMINGHAM – Six years ago, class president Tyler Armstead sat inside Bartow Arena and watched as his brother graduated from Thompson High School.
At that point, he wasn’t concerned with high school, much less graduation, but six years later, addressing the senior class inside Bartow Arena on Tuesday, May 20 at Thompson’s 2025 graduation, he remembered words from his brother’s speech that stuck with him—transitions are scary.
“I can tell you firsthand, he wasn’t lying,” Armstead said. “But, with all of the transitions we faced in high school, we achieved a certain level of bravery and fearlessness that leaves me confident as we take this next step in life. I can be confident because the class of 2025 is one that defined excellence and shattered records.”
Those records included a new school record of $31 million in scholarships earned by this senior class, 12 graduates joining the military, six state championships in sports, a national title for the band and cheerleaders and a state broadcasting win.
Despite that success in high school, Armstead knows there is now new phase ahead that can be scary.
“We do face a period of uncertainty and obstacles,” he said. “But I want to let you know that you have already built the foundation to pick yourself up when you fall down. Even though some doors may close in your face, it will only allow you to take advantage of the new opportunities that present themselves.”
Keynote speaker and University of Alabama Huntsville President Dr. Charles Karr built off of that by saying that this group is prepared for the step ahead, even if they don’t realize it.
He highlighted the projected most popular jobs for the next five years as an example, which included the following:
-Work from home facilitator
-Fitness commitment counselor
-Smart home design manager
-XR immersion counselor
“I don’t even know what them things are,” Karr said with a laugh. “Bottom line is, you have been preparing to do jobs that don’t yet exist using technology that hasn’t even been invented to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet. That is the world you are moving into. My question to you is, in a world that complex that is moving that fast, is it harder or easier to make an impact?”
He urged the graduates to consider the impact they are making, using the example of a moment in time where he thought he was doing good things for others, but realized it was more self-serving.
At a McDonald’s, a lady came in and ordered five double cheeseburgers. When asked to pay, she pulled out a bag of change, but was nearly a dollar short of the total.
Karr, using the metaphor of riding in like a knight on a white horse, gave her the $1 needed.
“She paid, took the cheeseburgers and left,” Karr recalled. “As fate would have it, our team bus ended up behind her. About the time we are about to get on the highway, she slams on her breaks. We were all like, ‘What are you doing, you can’t stop on a ramp.’ Out from under the overpass comes a gentleman. He walks up to the car and the lady rolls down her window and she sticks out a sack. The guy takes it, bows her head and begins to eat ravenously before wondering back under the bridge.
“I was so ashamed. I gave a dollar and she gave everything, just doing a kindness for somebody that they can’t repay.”
He told this year’s graduating class to focus on making an impact on others.
“If you want to have an impact, do a kindness that someone can’t possibly repay, and do it again, and again, and again,” he said. “What you’ll discover is, it quickly gets lost on you who is doing the giving and who is doing the taking.”
Karr pointed out that small acts like that and the person you choose to be can make all of the difference in the world.
“Our world is changed by ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” he said. “Go be one of those. You are going to do so fabulously well. I am looking at future doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, teachers, welders, plumbers. You are going to do really well.”
Alabaster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers also shared his joy in seeing this year’s seniors get to this moment.
“This is the closing of one chapter and the first step into a brand new one,” he said. “It is proof of how far you have come and a glimpse of how far you will go. When I look at you now, I don’t see students, I see stories. Stories of who you were and who you are becoming, stories of quiet determination and bold ambition. These stories are not just part of your past, they are the foundation for what you are building.”
Vickers then took a trip down memory lane back to when this year’s graduates got their journey started in kindergarten, highlighting that Frozen had not taught us to “Let it Go” yet, the song “Call Me Maybe” was a top hit, the iPhone 5 had just launched, TikTok didn’t exist, Instagram was just 2 years old and the Avengers had just launched.
“During that same time, you were learning to read, write, imagine and dream,” he said. “You’ve grown up in a world that doesn’t slow down, a world of rapid change with information overload to global connection. Now, here you are. Stronger, wiser and more ready than ever.”
That fit in perfectly with the words of valedictorian Nina Lin, who said when she began that journey Vickers referenced 13 years ago, she didn’t know what she was doing. Nearly 13 years later, addressing her classmates inside Bartow Arena, she proudly admitted, “I still don’t know what I’m doing.”
The remarks got a good chuckle from the crowd, as she tied her valedictorian speech to the gamble of taking risks in high school and beyond, while pointing out that none of us really know what we are doing as we take the next step in life.
“Starting high school four years ago, we didn’t know what to expect,” Lin said. “As we progressed through the years, we found ourselves taking risks every day. Throughout it all, we lost, we won and sometimes we broke even. We played the game that was high school. We gave everything we had, taking on each day. Now, here we are in the final round.”
As they’ve hit this final round, however, Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield made sure to point out, that as each student goes into this next chapter, they should do so steadily and enjoy the moment.
“Life will seem to speed up for you, society becomes very impatient and we often want things immediately. This season of your life is fleeting and I encourage you to do everything you can to slow it down. Take it in, savor these precious moments. Go boldly, go confidently, go do great things. Alabaster and Thompson will always be your home.”
Armstead closed out his speech by encouraging his group of fellow graduates to continue being Warriors in life just as they have been Thompson Warriors in high school.
“What does it mean to be a warrior? Traditionally, it describes someone who is strong and eager to protect and defend,” he said. “But it also describes someone who is emotionally and situationally intelligent. A leader who can bring a community together and someone who has the relentless desire to overcome any challenge to achieve their goals. For the class of 2025, this definition fits each and every one of us. From the classroom to the community, we demonstrated what it means to be a Warrior.”
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