Wheeler graduates urged to ‘find something that you love’

Wheeler seniors listen to remarks from outgoing principal Paul Gillihan. CCSD screengrabs.

As the awaited getting their diplomas Saturday, some Wheeler High School seniors danced. Or waved to family members.

One insisted on having a selfie taken with Principal Paul Gillihan.

The Wheeler Class of 2025 gathered for the final time at the KSU Convocation Center brimming with smiles, joy and the satisfaction of completing an important part of their lives.

In delivering some words of wisdom, Valedictorian Declan Amerault encouraged his classmates not to take any opportunity they have, nor the time they have, for granted.

He said it took him until his senior year to finally commit to something, and participating in robotics, which he said he absolutely “loved.”

“I was just going through the motions,” said Amerault, who’s heading to Georgia Tech to study mathematics.

“Find something that you love and put everything you have into it. Now is the time to take charge of you life and figure out who you are.

He made several references to Wikipedia, including warnings from teachers as a freshman not to rely too much on the Internet encyclopedia.

“You can find anything on Wikipedia,” Amerault said, “but you’ll never find out what makes you tick, and what makes you smile, and what makes you unique.

“You will not have a Wikipedia page . . . and that is a good thing. At this point in our lives, we are the writers, not the readers, of our own Wikipedia page.”

Gillihan, who is leaving Wheeler after six years to become principal at Campbell High School, told the graduates to “go forward, make good choices and do the right thing and you will have a great life.”

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