Congratulations to the Class of 2020.
Not only have you made it through 12 years of school, but you are finishing the last few months with grace and courage in the midst of a pandemic. No one could have known what you would be facing in your last few months of high school, what important events you would be forced to miss, but you must realize that how you deal with circumstances in life will determine your future. Each failure, each victory, each life lesson, each experience helps you to become a better human being if you allow it to.
You were born into the world on the cusp of 9/11, the worst terrorist attack on US soil. Now, as you prepare for graduation, you are dealing with another tumultuous situation. This beginning, end and all that has been in between, has shaped you into who you are today.
You have learned many lessons concerning how to face adversity and overcome. Take these lessons you have learned with you, and always remember to face life with a spirit of love, patience and kindness. This final step in your high school experience is not the end, but the beginning of a life that is up to you and what you make of it. Be positive and persevere, and remember the quote of Thomas Edison, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
My wish for the Class of 2020 is great success and for each of you to believe that you were made to do great things.
Jimmy Ray Douglas
Fairfield County Councilman
