North grads told to ‘treasure every moment’

By Tiffany Thompson, News Editor

Sunday, June 14, 2009 June 15, 2009 09:35 am

— “Treasure every moment because yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”
Those were Superintendent Dr. Samuel DePaul’s closing remarks to North Stanly High School’s Class of 2009 Friday.
He explained that each of us is given 86,400 seconds in a day and we need to treasure every one.
Dr. Sandra Carter, principal at North, also had words of encouragement for the graduating class.
“With this ceremony, you mark the end of your high school experience and you have earned your diplomas. But think of the opportunity that is ahead of you. You have the opportunity to change the world,” said Carter, who celebrated her first graduation ceremony as principal of North.
As many students remarked on memories they shared during their four years at North, none were as poignant as Justin Watson’s valedictory address.
He reminisced about the lessons he learned in high school, but the one he explained had the most impact on his life was a movie he watched in class.
“From the movie I learned that you wake up each morning and life is what you decide it is. So no matter what your future holds, wake up tomorrow decided you’re going to have a good life,” Watson said.
North Stanly’s graduating class, which consisted of 168 students, had 47 students to receive high honors with a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Twenty-nine seniors, or 17 percent of the graduating class, were North Carolina Scholars and 73 students earned honors.
Watson was named valedictorian and Daniel Galloway was named salutatorian.

About the Class

Class Motto:
“Life is not measured by the
number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that
take our breath away.”

Class Song:
“You’re Gonna Miss This”
by Trace Adkins

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