Thomasville High School graduates Class of 2023

May 21—THOMASVILLE- Thomasville High School held their Commencement Ceremony for the THS Class of 2023 on Friday, May 19, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Stadium, where 174 students walked in as seniors and left as alumni.

The ceremony began with a welcome from outgoing THS Principal Brian Beaty. Senior Class President Jordyn Bowdry then welcomed the audience to the Commencement Ceremony, thanking them for their attendance, and introducing her fellow class officers.

Following Bowdry's introduction and the presentation of the colors by the THS JROTC Color Guard, Dr. Tina McBride, Interim Superintendent took to the podium.

"High school graduation is a once in a lifetime achievement," she said. "It is a time for reflection and celebration of many years of hard work and sacrifice. It is a milestone for which I would like to commend our students and their families for their efforts to make tonight's graduation ceremony a reality."

McBride then turned her focus to the seniors, telling them graduation honored them and their parents and saying she hoped the education they received during their years in the Thomasville City School System has developed the knowledge, interest, ideals and habits that will propel them to greater accomplishments.

"After tonight's fanfare, I hope you will look back on your time at Thomasville High School and remember the values of respect, perseverance and integrity that you have acquired," she said. "On behalf of the faculty and school board, I thank you for participating in this 2023 graduation exercise."

Upon the conclusion of McBride's address, Beaty introduced Salutatorian, Henry McDonald, Jr., who he said exemplified everything great about the youth of today.

McDonald thanked everyone for their efforts to attend the graduation ceremony, explaining if they were anything like him, the past few months had been a struggle, due to a case of "senioritis."

"Yet, we all made it," he joked. "This is the end of our high school careers, filled with football games and banners being run through, filled with multiple playoff runs in various sports, filled with procrastination of cramming two weeks of work into a few hours, with lunches surrounded by our friends and so much more."

McDonald went on to say, it's also the end of a special generation, who endured the hardships of COVID-19.

"On April 1, 2020, the most poorly-timed email was sent to all of our accounts," he recounted. "Thomasville City Schools would be closed for in-person instruction for the rest of the year. Our freshman year, a year of change, acclimating to new friends and a new surrounding was thrown for a loop."

McDonald explained it was a difficult time for all, because there was no one to turn to and ask if they had been through this situation before. However, it taught them to rely on each other.

"For most, it was a period of solitude and forced us to look in the mirror and truly see the people we surround ourselves with, our friends and our family," he said. "If anything binds our class together, I believe it is the fact we are the first and last class to survive that pandemic in high school and all its highs and lows."

Despite the highs and lows, McDonald said the pandemic really showed him the value in a community and showed him how badly he needs interaction with his teachers and peers. He thanked his teachers for being there for him, despite all of his questions and nagging thoughts.

"We must use what we learned during that period of isolation and over these years to enjoy friendships and this time together," he said. "Many of us will go off and begin a new journey, but I hope we never forget this journey and all that it's done for us. We will forever share this moment as the Class of 2023."

With a thunderous round of applause, Valedictorian Sarah Grace Young then took to the podium, thanking the parents, friends and teachers who have all shaped the Class of 2023.

"These are the people who molded the clay that we are today," she said. "Just like a lump of clay, they have molded us into a piece of pottery, a piece of art who bring joy to those around us."

Young agreed with McDonald, stating the Class 0f 2023 has overcome immense amounts of adversity.

"Our freshman year, we faced a global pandemic, and while some of us may have only struggled to wake up for a class over Zoom, others lost family: a mother, a father, a sister, a grandparent," she said. "On January 28, 2021, we lost someone who should be sitting with us here today."

Young reminisced on her former classmate, wishing they could share this moment together.

"Katelyn Poole was a light in the class of 2023, who didn't shine long enough," she said. "We found support in each other."

Young then encouraged her classmates to look around, stating she hoped they saw friends who they could always count on, rather it be cheering when they made a touchdown or laughing at a joke told at the lunch table.

"Remember the little things that brought you joy, because those are the things that make up the Class of 2023," she said.

She reminded her classmates that while high school may be over, the task is not done yet.

"It will take dedication and perseverance," she said. "You are going to stumble and you are going to fall, but the most important thing is that you get back up and accept your mistakes. Allow them to motivate you. As you leave tonight a graduate of Thomasville High School, remember how much you have grown, remember the mistakes and failures you have made and celebrate your achievements."

Young concluded by stating that they were still a lump of clay being molded, and the mistakes along the way only fine tune their molding.

With a round of applause, Beaty then began presenting the diplomas to the Class of 2023, before presenting them to the Board of Education for acceptance.

The graduates celebrated by turning their tassel and throwing their caps in the air.