Graduates adjust their mortarboards Sunday afternoon as they line up before the processional during the commencement exercises at Mount View High School in Thorndike. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
THORNDIKE — The 67 seniors who graduated Sunday afternoon from Mount View High School walked away with a philosophical question to ponder, courtesy of their principal, Thomas Gray.
“Who are you?” he asked.
Gray delivered a commencement speech to about 300 people, including 67 seniors, faculty and staff members and the students’ family members and friends at the school’s gymnasium. While Gray’s message was targeted to seniors, he began by including the full audience in his query.
“Raise your hand if you have it figured out,” he said. “Who are you and what is your ‘self?'”
No one appeared to respond. Gray then cited two schools of thought to illustrate the question: One is that your “self” is your thoughts — that you are a product of your thoughts, he said. He asked the audience to take an inventory of its thoughts.
“What are the things that you think about?” he said. “What do you dwell on?”
Spectators fill the gymnasium Sunday afternoon during the commencement exercises at Mount View High School in Thorndike. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
Gray asked if those in attendance focus on positive, encouraging things or those that are self-limiting and critical. According to that school of thought, he said, whatever we dwell on is who we are.
Another school of thought, articulated by American philosopher and historian Will Durant, is that we are our actions, and our character is not a fixed thing, but always subject to our will and willingness to change, Gray said. Selfhood is about one’s actions and the sum of a person’s actions constitutes who he or she is.
Gray asked seniors to consider both questions — whether they are their thoughts or their actions.
“I would encourage you, as you go forward today, to weigh the value of both perspectives,” he said.
On a warm, sunny Sunday, the seniors marched into the gymnasium to music performed by the Mount View High School Concert Band, conducted by Michael Venti.
Eleanor Hess, chairwoman of the Regional School Unit 3 board of directors and a former teacher, congratulated the seniors, telling them they are in charge now of creating their own adventures.
Hess urged members of the class of 2023 to vote, speak out when they see something that is not right, be part of the solution and not the problem, draft solutions and be persistent. She also urged them to be resilient and thoughtful of others, be the agent for transformative change and focus on all that is good and equitable.
“Best wishes from me and all of the members of the board of directors,” she said. “Congratulations.”
Graduate Dakota Freeman plays the trumpet with the concert band Sunday afternoon before participating in the processional during the commencement exercises at Mount View High School in Thorndike. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
Class valedictorian Greta Ahlefeld, who served as mistress of ceremonies, welcomed the crowd. Salutatorian Aiden Tripp offered remarks, asking fellow seniors to reflect on their passions and harness them to do good. Gray, Hess and Assistant Principal David Page presented diplomas.
Before marching into the gymnasium, senior Ella Sawyer, who said she will be 18 on Tuesday, acknowledged she was nervous but excited about her next adventure. She said she will study biology and play field hockey at Wheaton College and plans to become a veterinarian.
Sawyer cited German teacher Jessica Mussatti as one who greatly influenced her during her high school years. Sawyer said she and her friends spent much time in Mussatti’s classroom, where they joined the teacher for lunch every day.
“We’re going to go to Germany with her this year,” Sawyer said. “She’s just such an encouraging person. She has just always brightened my day.”
Graduates applaud a speaker Sunday afternoon during the commencement exercises at Mount View High School in Thorndike. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
Senior Alex Morton, 19, of Liberty said he has no set plans and, for now, wants to take some time to relax. He said he attended high school in Florida for three years and he and his family moved to Maine because his grandmother’s health was declining and they wanted to be closer. He said he found Mount View to be more relaxing than his former school.
Morton cited his alternative education teacher, Travis Collins, as being a positive influence during Morton’s time at Mount View.
“He was just really laid back, very respectful,” Morton said.
RSU 3 enrolls students from Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo.
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