Speakers at McFarland High School’s commencement to the Class of 2025 framed the moment as both an ending and a call to continued connection, resilience and civic responsibility.

Student council president Bryce Bland told classmates to “stay close to people” and to “be the friend who’s there to listen,” urging graduates to value everyday connections as they move on. Superintendent Aaron Tarnitzer used an escape-room metaphor and advised students to “speak your truth and continue to not be on mute,” encouraging graduates to participate and advocate in the world beyond high school.

Teacher and speaker Chris McGrath used a historical example — the World War I Christmas truce of 1914 — to stress common humanity. “That night, there were no British or French or Germans. There were young men, tired, scared, and cold, who found kinship and camaraderie with adversaries,” he said, urging graduates to see people rather than adversaries when confronting complex problems.

Class speaker Cecily Clough tied the theme of character to civic responsibility, saying promises and acts of goodness reflect who people are: “What matters is not the strength of the muscle in our chest, but the strength of the character that our heart has built,” she said.

Speeches throughout the ceremony emphasized teamwork, the role of teachers and family in students’ success, and the idea that growth comes through struggle. Speakers repeatedly highlighted the social bonds formed in school as the central lesson the Class of 2025 should carry forward.