Baccalaureate Message: Have Roots and Wings... Start Living Your Dreams
Story by Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS NEWS WRITER
The Baccalaureate Service, a religious ceremony held to honor our county's
seniors about to graduate from Houston County High School, took place Sunday,
May 16 at 3 p.m. in the afternoon in the forum of HCHS.
Thirty-seven graduating seniors, along with their family and friends,
attended. The Class of 2004 has 99 members altogether.
After the graduation march, underclassman Brad Averitt welcomed everyone, then
introduced Senior Frani Odom, who sang a song a capella. Then Senior Dawn Cobb
led everyone in singing:
"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you."
The message to seniors was delivered by Bro. Jason Allison, minister of Pegram
Church of Christ. Allison himself was a 1992 graduate of HCHS.
Allison reminisced about graduating from HCHS, recalled teachers who made it
special, and shared how going away to college helped him to grow up and mature.
He told seniors to have "Roots" and "Wings," crediting his mother with sharing
that piece of advice to him on his graduation.
Allison told seniors that your roots are really your family and where you come
from. He said they are also a measuring stick of how far you've been able to
come. About roots, he also said:
* Your beliefs should manifest themselves in your behavior.
* Actions speak louder than words.
* People may doubt what we say, but they will never doubt what we do.
* People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
He quoted Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Book by saying, "It's not
about me."
Referring to "wings," Allison said you should never pass up an opportunity to
do something you WON'T regret. When weighing difficult decisions in life, he
added, always ask yourself if you won't regret doing it later. If you won't,
then take the opportunity.
Allison quoted Dr. Seuss by reading, "Today is your day... You're on your
own... Oh, the places you will go."
He also addressed parents, who will be giving their children the "wings" of
freedom.
Finally, he concluded his message to seniors with some "don'ts."
* Don't try to understand everything.
* Don't be reluctant to share your feelings.
* Don't be afraid to try to make things better.
* Don't ever feel guilty about the past, but learn from your mistakes.
* Don't ever think that you are alone.
* Don't ever stop loving.
* Don't ever stop believing.
* Don't ever stop dreaming your dreams.
He ended with the statement, "Roots and wings, start living your dreams."
After his message, underclassman Erin Miller gave the benediction, then
everyone enjoyed refreshments in the school cafeteria.
Seniors who attended the Baccalaureate Service were:
Courtney Beal, Heather Black, Stephanie Brooks, Jamie Bush, Jamie Cary,
Brentnie Childers, Megan Cleghern, Dawn Cobb;
Crissy Deason, Jennifer Dickey, Morgan Falls, Bobbie Jo Ferguson, Devin
Fillingham, Heather Hooper, Jolynn Jowell;
Rebekah Lambert, Sheppard Lambert, Ashley Langford, Stacy Lewis, Cory Lowery,
Lisa Mitchell, Joshua Morphew;
Marilynn Meadows, Stephanie Morris, Frani Odom, Amber Porche, Ruby Pulley,
Priscilla Rachford, Brian Richardson, Laura Richardson;
Rachel Rohm, Kimberly Rumfelt, Jonathan Schnepp, Joshua Spears, Benjamin
Torres, Megan Tyler, and Paul Warren.
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