Havre High celebrates 2021 graduates and perspective after COVID-19

Havre High School's graduating class got a different perspective on the past year at the graduation ceremony at Blue Pony Stadium Sunday.

"I feel too often we've gotten to the point we feel like we're victims, and I want you guys to know you're not a victim, Havre Public Schools Facilities and Transportation Director Scott Filius told the class. "The definition of a victim is somebody who's been hurt, harmed, injured or killed because of a person, accident or event and COVID was an event, but you guys aren't victims."

Filius, a long-time history teacher and wrestling coach at Havre High prior to taking over facilities and transportation, told the class they had some benefits due to the situation.

Filius and his wife took jobs in Havre as teachers and coaches in 1995 and raised three children in Havre.

"Let's look at your guys' schedule. You guys got to go to school two days a week for half the year. I tried to put in some sort of historical context and I went back to the last class of the last century. I got some friends in the class in 1999. To a man, they would all choose to do two days instead of five. So you're not a victim of your schedule," Filius said. 

Filius went on to address the pandemic, masks and quarantining, getting some laughs as a result.

"You guys got the opportunity to become experts in infectious diseases. You guys have been clean, sanitized, disinfected more than any other class ... . You guys are not the stinky class," he said.

Filius went on to talk about skills the graduates learned as a result of the pandemic which they will now have even after the pandemic is over.

"You guys got stuck, or the opportunity, depends on how you want to look at it, to distance learn. You guys know how to Zoom meet, Google Docs, Google meet. You guys were forced into a skillset that's going to serve you very, very well in the future," Filius said. 

"All of that stuff is not going away. You guys got the opportunity to be a lot more job-market ready than the class that came before you. I guess what I'm trying to tell you guys is in life. The cup is half full or it's half empty," he added. 

Filius ended his speech by asking graduates to look at their situation and find the best in it. He said nothing will change quality of life better than the power of perception. He hopes the graduates go on to do great things but, ultimately, he hopes they are all happy.

Before Filius spoke, the ceremony opened with the national anthem and school song, followed by a performance of "How to Train Your Dragon" by the school band.

A performance by the Havre High A Capella choir preceded the presentation of the graduates, who then received their diplomas. 

Principal Ed Norman then addressed the Class of 2021 for a final time. He encouraged the graduates to be selfless and strive to be better people each day.

"Whatever, you choose to do, wherever you choose to go, just work for that and be better every day. The third thing, live in today, and plan for tomorrow. But don't look too far ahead, because then we forget to live in today," Norman said. 

"I'm thankful for the time that we've had together. In spite of all the obstacles with COVID and everything else that we've been through, you made it. You've just got to decide what you want to do, and go out and be great," he concluded.

After the ceremony, some of the graduates talked about their plan for their immediate future.

"Feels good," graduate Sierra Hofland said. "I'm going to take a year off and work out what I want to do."

"It's awesome to finally graduate from high school and go on to college and get a score finally. I'm going to (Montana State University-)Northern for the diesel program this fall," graduate Hunter Velk said after the ceremony.