Rocky Boy High School holds 2022 graduation

Rocky Boy High School held an emotional graduation ceremony Thursday evening featuring teachers, administrators and soon-to-be graduated students thanking and congratulating each other after years of perseverance through some of the most difficult years in recent memory.

The first keynote speaker was Junior High Science Teacher Teresa Olson who recounted the various successes and antics of her students over their careers in Rocky Boy Schools.

"You are my kids and you will always be my kids," Olson said.

After thanking the students for choosing her to be one of their speakers she said she wanted to leave them with some words of wisdom.

The first was to erase procrastination from their lives, saying it only adds stress to their days and they'll be so much happier without it.

Olson also said they need to keep persevering in spite of any setbacks, opposition, or failure, that they need to work hard for what they want.

"Not even a pandemic could stop you," she said.

However, she said, adaptability is also key, and if an idea or job or career isn't working they shouldn't be afraid to change their minds.

"The most important factor of survival is neither intelligence nor strength, but adaptability," she said paraphrasing Charles Darwin, father of evolutionary biology.

Olson said through all of this they cannot forget to enjoy their lives, and if they are unhappy they can always try something new.

"Don't be afraid, be alive," she said.

She said she didn't go to school to become a teacher until she was 40, and now she has 25 years of amazing memories in this career.

"All the money and power in the world means nothing if you're not happy," she said.

The second keynote speaker was Language Arts and Physical Education Teacher Rachel Seiler who said reading to her students was one of her favorite things to do as a teacher and wants to do it one last time for the graduating class.

She read from Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" about the ups and downs they will face as adults and encouraged them to never give up.

"I love you all," she said.

The graduating class also heard from their salutatorian, J'leanna Caliyah Raining Bird, who thanked her family, for helping her get where she is today, as well as the teachers, administrators and school board members of Rocky Boy Schools.

Raining Bird also thanked the classmates with whom she had this experience and said she wanted to leave a message with those she may not have come to know.

She asked her fellow students to broaden their perspectives by interacting with as many different people as they possibly can so they can make the same kind of memories she's been able to make over the years.

The graduates also heard from their valedictorian, Ambrose Cruz Singer, who also thanked the school's staff as well as his friends and family.

Singer talked about the challenges posed by the past two years and encouraged his fellow students to keep working toward a better future for everyone.