‘This is the start of everything’: Oak Mountain sends off class of 2025 at graduation
Published 9:56 pm Friday, May 23, 2025
The Oak Mountain High School class of 2025 celebrated their graduation on Thursday, May 22 at Bartow Arena, completing a short few years of memories and lessons before starting a new chapter in their lives. (Reporter photos/Tyler Raley)
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer
BIRMINGHAM – Standing in Bartow Arena as both of her brothers once did, Rama Zuaiter reflected on the past after completing a new chapter of success in the Zuaiter legacy at Oak Mountain High School.
Omar graduated with the class of 2018, while Khaled graduated in the class of 2022, each with high honors bestowed upon them. However, Rama achieved a feat not many can say they’ve reached, including her brothers—earning the title of Valedictorian.
Despite the great achievement Rama had obtained throughout her four years as an Oak Mountain Eagle, that was not on her mind as she stood at the microphone addressing the class of 2025. Instead, it was the past that she and her classmates shared along the way from day one of their journey together, having experienced fun events, a snow storm and even a global pandemic all before reaching OMHS.
“We shared so many great experiences up until this moment, like when we attended the Fall Fun Fest or Boosterthon, which made us go asking all our family members for money so we could get our wristbands,” Zuaiter said. “Throughout these years, we’ve been growing physically and mentally. With the end of online learning, we stepped into a new place, high school.”
During that four-year learn that signaled the end of the pandemic that changed the world, Zuaiter, like many of her classmates, saw many lessons come their way—some that were just part of high school, and others that will really help them in life.
She took the moment to remind her other 405 fellow graduates though that while they are still very young and have a lot of life left to see, they take home many things from high school that will prepare them for the days and years ahead.
“We have learned so much from the time we have spent,” Zuaiter said. “We have learned how to overcome countless obstacles, the importance of responsibility and adaptability. However, we are still growing, so we might not have everything figured out yet, like procrastinating on our homework assignments and projects, but I would say we have made it a long way from freshman year. Most importantly, we learned who we are.”
Zuaiter echoed the words of many on the night of Thursday, May 22, motivating her classmates to write their own chapters and trust those around them.
Fourth-year principal Andrew Gunn commended the students for all of their accomplishments, speaking on behalf of the staff at OMHS in saying that it has been an honor to watch the group grow throughout high school.
“Throughout your high school career, we have seen you grow and mature, we have been involved in your academic endeavors and we have tried to motivate you when possible,” Gunn said. “Tonight we applaud your accomplishments. We hope to have played a part in preparing you. We look forward to all your continued success and we are honored to have been a part of this chapter of your lives.”
Keeping with the subject of motivation, Brenda Bell-Guercio, mayor of Indian Springs Village, took to the podium to serve as the commencement speaker, harping to cherish every part of the process in life, whether it be tough or easy.
“On your journey, don’t rush things. Enjoy each step, whether it’s in a classroom or learning a new skill, starting a new job, getting married or starting a family,” Bell-Guercio said. “Take your time and relish the everyday. Like that song says, ‘It will pass quickly, and you’re going to miss those days.’ So one day, way down the road when you’re looking back, know that you took the time to enjoy the journey.”
Bell-Guercio made a reference to the Rascal Flatts and one of their famous hits, talking about how not everything in life is going to play out the way the graduates want and that it might affect them negatively. She encouraged them though to allow life to play out despite the challenges, because life always has a way of getting people where they should be.
“There will be times you might find yourself on a broken road and feel lost,” Bell-Guercio said. “But don’t ever stop pushing forward, because as the lyrics in the Rascal Flatts song ‘Bless the Broken Road’ goes, ‘Every lost dream or broken road will lead you somewhere else, and lead you to where you are supposed to be.'”
She then took her speech back to a time that her husband had to give encouragement to a friend’s son that had just flunked out of school and did not want to go forward with doing anything at all, to which he told him to not create a permanent solution for a temporary problem.
Bell-Guercio turned that statement and put it towards the graduates, giving her closing message by telling them to take advantage of each day in order to create their own history.
“I want each of you to believe in your tomorrows, seize your tomorrows and embrace them,” Bell-Guercio said. “Your parents, teachers and churches have given you the hardback and the binder to put your words on the pages. You have a blank slate to start writing your own story, so you go out there and write it.”
OMHS Salutatorian Eunsong Lee followed her up reflecting on the years that she and her fellow seniors had had, discussing how she was one of those who chose to go fully digital during the pandemic, leaving the in-person experience for the rest of her time at the middle school.
However, in coming back to a new environment at the high school like all of her class, she felt she definitely grew up, much like her friends had.
“While I’m not exactly assured and confident, and certainly have no idea how to define myself or my purpose, I’ve grown up—we all have,” Lee said. “But we’ve grown in so many more ways than meets the eye, which may not be apparent now, but I know your influence will become increasingly obvious as we go on in life and live with your lessons, advice and love to guide us.”
Emphasizing the amount they have learned over the last four years, Lee reminded the students that there are still many more lessons to come, and that even those they have learned are unable to be described in a simple way.
“As I look out across the across the crowd, I’m not sure what expressions to expect,” Lee said. “There is so much that we have learned, not just calculus or government science or literature and composition or biology, but the wisdom we’ve gained, the ambition we’ve carried and the passion we’ve found. It’s so much. It can’t be depicted, nor summarized in the few feet we’ve grown since we were kids, and there’s still so much left to see as we continue to grow and develop.”
In closing, she congratulated her classmates on all they have accomplished in a rigorous four years together, but said this is not the end for them. Instead, it is just the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.
“Our class of 2025 has gone through many trials and come out with a deep understanding of empathy and sincerity,” Lee said. “We are not only accepting of, but recognize and cherish our differences. We have learned that sometimes making mistakes and receiving the help of others is to move forward, while at other times, you have to continue on by yourself. That’s what makes today special, because this is where what we have learned and who we have become all culminates, not in a finale, but in a ‘to be continued.'”
Zuaiter echoed that message in her final remarks, taking the final few moments to remind her class that this really is not a departure from each other and what they have done, but it is really the start of the story they will write.
“Class of 2025, as we step off the stage and into the next chapters of our lives, let’s not rush to forget the lessons we’ve learned here,” Zuaiter said. “Let’s carry them boldly, lead with compassion, act with purpose and never lose the curiosity that brought us this far. We may not know exactly what the future holds, but we do know who we are, and that’s enough to begin. Now, go out there, not just to chase success, but to make a difference, not just to build a life, but to build a legacy. This isn’t goodbye, it’s the start of everything.”
The OMHS seniors then celebrated in walking up to receive their diplomas, and after singing the alma mater and tossing their caps, felt all the emotions rush up as they soared from the nest and into the real world.
More North Shelby
-
-
-
Polls
Loading ...
