'Once a Bluejay, always a Bluejay': Waseca class of 2024 graduates

As their high school career comes to a close, the Waseca graduating class of 2024 looks forward.

The journey to getting to where they are now was a key theme in all the addresses given at the Waseca Junior & Senior High School commencement ceremony on Sunday.

Student addresses

Senior Class President Evelyn O’Brien was the first of four students to give an address at the ceremony. She related the class of 2024’s journey to graduation to the Mississippi River and water.

O’Brien began the metaphor by stating that Minnesota was the beginning of their journey, comparing it to when they first started school.

“The river begins with a straight path, a little narrow,” O’Brien said. “This is what we needed in elementary school, we needed guidance and a little less things on our plate.”

O’Brien continued to explain that the river becomes wider and less straight forward, leading to it flowing in different paths. But eventually, they all come back together, even if they separate.

“This represents where we are now,” O’Brien said. “We all had a different path to getting here; different experiences, different classes, different clubs, and different sports. But we are all here now to celebrate those paths.”

She then went on to say that the journey was not always easy, as they started their high school career fighting through the pandemic. She also explained other hardships they had to endure, such as MCA and ACT testing, waking up early for sports or music practice, and staying up late to study.

“But everything you thought was drowning you was actually teaching you how to swim,” O’Brien said.

The class of 2024 is now at the opening of a new adventure, and O’Brien told her classmates to keep the lessons they’ve learned through their education with them as they work through the “waves” of the world. She also told the class to not forget the endless memories they’ve made with each other.

“We won’t be on the same wave as each other anymore, but we’ll always be a part of the same ocean,” O’Brien said to close her speech.

Senior Class Delegates Tricia Cox and Emma Keith both gave addresses, with Cox continuing with O’Brien’s theme of journeys.

Cox said that her journey to Waseca started when she and her family moved here from Oregon and she is thankful for the education Waseca has given her.

“I know that the education we received at Waseca High School helped prepare us for whatever’s out there,” Cox said about life after graduation.

Like O’Brien, Keith talked about the hardships the class faced and stated that they will face more in the future. But she stated that they all should continue to follow the things that they learned at Waseca to help them make a lasting mark wherever they go to.

“Here at Waseca High School, we were taught to make good choices, have a day, and most importantly to embrace and find pride in what we are good at,” said Keith.

“As you leave today, take with you what Waseca has given us,” Keith continued. “Take with you a sense of pride, a sense of purpose, and a sense of possibility. The power is in your hands, and now that our time at Waseca has come to an end, it’s our turn to be a guiding light for future generations.”

Student Council President and School Board Representative Addison Wieseler was the final student to give an address at the ceremony, and urged the class to thank themselves for giving them this moment. Wieseler said that they all overcame so many obstacles to get to where they are and they all earned it. She also told them to not be afraid to change the world.

Principal’s address

Waseca Junior & Senior Principal Dr. Jason Miller addressed the class before the presentation of the diplomas.

“Over my years of working in education, it has become apparent that each class has its own unique personality,” Miller said in his address. “I would describe the class of 2024 as a positive group of young people who generally get along with each other.”

Miller told the class to never give up on themselves and always pursue happiness, as it gives them a sense of direction and purpose.

“We will be cheering for you all along the way, because once a Bluejay, always a Bluejay,” Miller said.