By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

HOOVER – The Spain Park High School class of 2025 was honored with a moving graduation ceremony held at Samford University’s Pete Hanna Center on Wednesday, May 21, with dozens of Jaguars preparing for their next steps in life by celebrating an important milestone.

The ceremony began with a moving performance from the Spain Park High School chamber choir of “Like an Eagle,” a song focused on spreading your wings to the next adventure of life.

Following a brief welcome from Amanda Esslinger, SPHS’s principal, Rahul Karthik, one of the school’s 27 valedictorians, addressed his classmates. To be deemed a valedictorian, one must compile a cumulative GPA of 4.45 or higher during their high school career.

“To the class of 2025, thank you for making these last four years unforgettable,” Karthik said. “You’ve been more than classmates. You’ve been part of a journey none of us will ever forget… We forged friendships, we found our strengths and we discovered our passions.”

Karthik discussed his upbringing in his speech, and how he learned from a young age that failure rather than perfection is life’s true teacher.

“Not only do we have to embrace and learn from failure, we must also be willing to take the risks and aim high,” Karthik said. “My parents came to a new country with nothing but hope. Their lives remind me that growth begins where comfort ends.”

Michael Allen, the president of Spain Park’s Student Government Association, was the next student to speak at the ceremony. Allen discussed how Spain Park is now officially a thing of the graduating class’s past, but that doesn’t mean it should be forgotten.

“These memories we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned here at Spain Park are sure to influence our decisions, our paths and our lives,” Allen said. “We don’t know where we’re going, so the hard part is how do we prepare for what comes next.”

Allen advised his classmates to embrace the uncertainty of this new season.

“You don’t have to worry about the future,” Allen said. “You just need to prepare for it.”

Following Allen, Hagen Holly, the senior class president, spoke on the various achievements of the class of 2025 during his speech.

“A lot of things happened during our four years at Spain Park,” Holly said. “We witnessed many deep playoff runs, we danced the night away at every homecoming, Sadie Hawkins dance and prom, we proved the males are superior in the Battle of the Seniors and we had some fun on spring break (as well).

“We are all headed in many different directions, and life will bring unique challenges to us all, but I feel it is important to remember that you were given these challenges because God knew that you could handle them. So, instead of running away from your problems, embrace the process and don’t forget to laugh a little bit along the way.”

Esslinger once again took the stage to address the graduates before the presentation of their diplomas, focusing on the age old question of “What’s next?” during her speech.

“Your diploma is the key that will open so many doors for you,” Esslinger said. “I am confident that what’s next for the class of 2025 is big, world-changing and is going to make everyone at Spain Park and Hoover City Schools so proud.”

While Esslinger believes it’s exciting to focus on what’s next, she also stressed the importance of holding fast to the memories and relationships formed at Spain Park.

“Each of these memories has shaped who you are and so have the people who helped you create them,” Esslinger said. “Soon, you will begin to make new memories with new people in a new place and in probably a new way. My hope for each of you is that not only do you value the knowledge that you have gained in school but also know the true value of the memories you created along the way.”

Following Esslinger’s remarks, graduates were presented with their diplomas and celebrated years of hard work, with the rest of their lives starting now.

For more information on Spain Park High School, visit Sphs.hoovercityschools.net.