CHS Class of 2026 looks ahead and back

CONNEAUT – Kari McKinley has had the privilege of seeing the Conneaut High School Class of 2026 grow up from a number of angles.
McKinley is not only a teacher at Conneaut High School, but also the proud parent of a graduating senior. She’s known much of the class since it was in preschool.
As the faculty speaker for Conneaut High School’s 137th Commencement Exercises at New Leaf Event Center on Saturday, May 30, McKinley offered the Class of 2026 a new version of the ABC’s as it moves on to the start of the next chapter.
Starting with the letter “A,” McKinley offered the Class of 2026 advice it can carry throughout life.
“Always be careful with your words,” McKinley said. “Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.”
With the letter “C,” McKinley told the graduating seniors that comparison is the thief of joy.
“Remember that social media isn’t real life, and don’t compare yourself to others, and learn to be comfortable with who you are,” she said.
The letter “E” was a reminder that lessons are learned throughout a lifetime and the letter “F” a plea for the graduates to not be terribly hard on themselves for having to learn those lessons.
“Experience is the hardest kind of teacher,” McKinley said. “It gives you a test first and the lesson afterward. Be sure to learn that lesson.”
“Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach you,” McKinley continued.
McKinley told the graduates, with the letter “H,” that happiness is not a measurement.
“Happiness is not about having more, it’s about appreciating what you already have,” McKinley said. “Don’t look for people or things to make you happy. Learn to be happy with yourself and by yourself.”
The letter “K” was a directive to be resilient.
“Keep going, work for what you want, and don’t settle,” McKinley said. “Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow. Don’t give up when things get tough.”
Moving on from the past was the lesson with the letter “Q.”
“Quit replaying old versions of yourself in your head,” McKinley said. “You were doing the best you could at the time. Your past does not define you.”
The letter “R” was a reminder that the people we surround ourselves should be the right people.
“Remember to surround yourself with good people,” McKinley said. “The company you keep is a reflection of you and your reputation. Your reputation takes years to build and only seconds to ruin.”
Maybe the best advice a young adult can receive was delivered with the letter “Y.”
“You are enough, plain and simple,” McKinley said. “Never let anyone else decide your worth.”
Class President Madilyn McKinley took her classmates for a walk down memory lane.
“From 2013 to 2026, over a decade together, through the ups and downs, we have all been here together, with the exception of COVID,” Madilyn McKinley said. “Even though some of us can’t stand each other and will never want to come back here, you will always know your way around this town, driving by streets or parks and remembering the times that you spent there for years, whether you want to or not. You will always have a home in Conneaut. No matter where all of us end up, we will always have these years together. Nothing can change the friends we met and the memories made here. Thank you, Conneaut Schools, for all of the memories, and thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years.”
Valedictorian Abigail Brecht spoke of the opportunities she and her classmates have because of the faculty and staff in Conneaut Area City Schools.
“At times, I’m sure it didn’t feel like you had the freedom to learn and grow into yourself, whether it be the constant strain of what you had to do next or what assignments were due, but every math test turned in, lab assignment completed, and practice participated in helped shape you into the individual you are today,” Brecht said. “It shaped us into the people we have become and the community we will be. Each of us had the opportunity to give up, quit sports, stop trying on assignments, and not show up to school. Instead, we all kept going. As each of you walk across the stage, relish the fact that you didn’t stop, you seized the opportunity to succeed. Maybe you wouldn’t have considered your high school career a success, however, you are here today, and that means a lot.”
Brecht noted that the activities of high school might be coming to an end, but there will be new possibilities going forward.
“Now there is an unlimited number of possibilities to pursue,” Brecht said. “You are not confined to four walls anymore, but rather a world of opportunities. I implore you that once you leave, you put negative experiences aside, carry the positive ones high, and take advantage of what life sends your way. We can’t always control what happens, but we can control how we react. Every path worth considering may just be a path worth following. When in doubt, I can encourage you to follow every new opportunity, no matter how difficult it may seem, and forge a path you are proud to take.”
Salutatorian Raymie Fill spoke about the future, but couldn’t help but mention how fast time has passed.
“As everyone always says, high school goes by in the blink of an eye,” Fill said. “To be honest with you, they’re right. Experiences happen so fast that they seemingly blur together into one giant moment. One minute you’re a freshman nervously walking through the Jackson Street doors for the first time, intimidated by a sea of unfamiliar faces, and the next you’re walking across the stage, getting your diploma considering the next chapter of your life.”
Fill noted the time that passed so quickly was spent looking to the next milestone, but memories were made along the way. It wasn’t the event that will be remembered, however.
“What made these memories meaningful was never just the actions themselves, but the people around us, and how they treated us and made us feel,” Fill said. “In my opinion, high school in itself might just be one of the strongest character builders a person goes through. You enter the four years unaware of where you will fit in.”
“Once you begin, you’re forced to accustom yourself to an unfamiliar environment with both people you know and people you don’t, older and younger, people like you and people who are not, without knowing exactly where you’ll end up belonging,” Fill continued. “If you’re lucky, you’ll find your people pretty quickly, but for most people, you’re friends with many different groups before you graduate.”
It’s those friends who make the difference.
“At the end of the day, it’s how the people sitting to your left and right made you feel that was the most impactful work,” Fill said. “It was exactly how they impacted your life that made it world changing. Because of this, high school is more than just a pile of homework sitting on your desk every day, the classes you had to attend day in and day out, and the stress waiting for you every time you turn around.
“Yes, there were days where we all learned to throw in the towel and never return, but those moments, and the ones where we felt warm and fuzzy inside, help point us towards where we are today and where we’re going tomorrow,” Fill continued. “Every point that was a test for us was just as important, if not more than a point where we were celebrated. Every success led to an increased confidence, and every struggle led to resilience. After all, successes are measured by how many cords you received, how many home runs you hit, what your grades were, how many touchdowns you scored, or how much money you have in your pocket, but by how you treat others. And hopefully, high school and the people around you have helped you learn exactly what that should look like.”