LANSFORD - Emotion played a big role in how members of the Panther Valley Class of 2013 presented their speeches Monday to fellow classmates, family, friends and faculty.
Valedictorian Jake Tokosh delivered his valedictory address with "passion and panache" as he defended his generation, 52 members of whom received their diplomas in the high school auditorium.
"Critics have condemned us, Generation Y, as lazy, sloppy, snobby and overly entitled," he said. "Why do we even exist? Skeptically I ask, if the social critics are correct in their assertions, whatever happened to passion, desire's focusing lens?"
Tokosh suggested the critics are wrong to assume his class is flawed.
"How many of you here, on this stage, have ambition? Raise your hands," he asked his classmates.
All of them raised their hands.
"What are you willing to fight for?," Tokosh continued, urging his classmates to reach out and take it for themselves.
Salutatorian Samantha Zlock talked about the different paths they will all take in life. Some will go on to college, others will enter the work force sooner and some will serve their country, but all will strive to be successful. She cautioned if it is only about money, some will not be happy for that reason alone.
"To be truly successful in life, we must be happy," she said. "A wise woman once told me 'be happy with who you are and what you do and you can do anything you want,'"
Zlock ended her speech with one last piece of advice for classmates.
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, do not be a second-rate version of someone else," she said. "Be yourself, succeed in life, be happy and never let anyone tell you that you cannot reach your goals."
Class President Richard Smith welcomed everyone to the high school's 49th commencement. He talked about how close the class had become through the years and left his classmates with a quote from Dr. Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Superintendent of Schools Rosemary Porembo picked up on the passion theme and in her closing remarks. She urged the seniors to pick up a copy of Anna Quindlen's "A Short Guide to a Happy Life."
Quindlen, an author and Pulitzer Prize winner, wrote, "Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live, to love the journey, not the destination."