‘Shining our light as bright as the sun’ – Merrimack Valley graduates urged to care for others

Merrimack Valley High class president Addyson Kimball raises her arms after receiving her diploma at the Saturday ceremony.

Merrimack Valley High class president Addyson Kimball raises her arms after receiving her diploma at the Saturday ceremony. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

The Merrimack Valley graduation took place outside in spite of the two downpours that occured during the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

The Merrimack Valley graduation took place outside in spite of the two downpours that occured during the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Jacqueline Pearl holds her cap at the Merrimack Valley High School graduation on Saturday.

Jacqueline Pearl holds her cap at the Merrimack Valley High School graduation on Saturday. Yaa Bame / Monitor staff

Jim and Crystal Carleton accept a diploma for their son, Wyatt, by Superintendent Randy Wormald on Saturday. Wyatt died in a car accident in January.

Jim and Crystal Carleton accept a diploma for their son, Wyatt, by Superintendent Randy Wormald on Saturday. Wyatt died in a car accident in January.

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan shows the crowd at the Merrimack Valley graduation her original speech after it got wet during the first downpour at the ceremony on Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan shows the crowd at the Merrimack Valley graduation her original speech after it got wet during the first downpour at the ceremony on Saturday.

Merrimack Valley graduate Lexi Ann Goley waves to her family after receiving her diploma at the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Merrimack Valley graduate Lexi Ann Goley waves to her family after receiving her diploma at the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Merrimack Valley graduate Lenna Quiter reads off the accomplishments of the student body at the Saturday graduation on the athletic field.

Merrimack Valley graduate Lenna Quiter reads off the accomplishments of the student body at the Saturday graduation on the athletic field. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Merrimack Valley graduate Gavin Pesula throws his arms out to family and friends as he walks to get his diploma Saturday.

Merrimack Valley graduate Gavin Pesula throws his arms out to family and friends as he walks to get his diploma Saturday. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff

Merrimack Valley graduates throw up their caps at the conclusion of the ceremony on Saturday.

Merrimack Valley graduates throw up their caps at the conclusion of the ceremony on Saturday. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

Merrimack Valley graduates throw up their caps at the conclusion of the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Merrimack Valley graduates throw up their caps at the conclusion of the ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2025. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Merrimack Valley High graduate Sophia Bush smiles after getting her diploma at the Saturday ceremony.

Merrimack Valley High graduate Sophia Bush smiles after getting her diploma at the Saturday ceremony. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

By YAA BAME

Monitor staff

Published: 06-07-2025 10:20 PM

Modified: 06-09-2025 8:56 AM


Jacqueline Pearl is in love with her future and can’t wait to meet her.

The senior graduated on Saturday from Merrimack Valley High School, where she decorated her cap with those lyrics in rainbow holographic letters, surrounded by orange and yellow butterflies and white and blue flower petals.

“I’ve always been obsessed with Billie Eilish, so I used the quote from ‘My Future’,” said Pearl, referring to a part of the chorus of the 2020 song. “I just thought, our school is blue, gold, white, and there are really similar colors in the album. And so I was like, ‘You know what? We’re going to make this work.’”

Pearl plans to pursue a career in barbering and esthetics and hopes to open her own men’s salon one day. Her twin sister Chloe also decorated her cap – but as a cake – since she will attend Johnson and Wales University to become a pastry maker.

About 180 students dressed in navy blue caps and gowns sat in white plastic chairs in the center of the football field. Family members and friends occupied the bleachers, the tents and the grass to celebrate their graduating seniors.

“From start to finish, the spirit of dedication helped us build a year that the class of 2026 will certainly have a hard time beating,” senior class president Addyson Kimball said in her speech. “Congratulations, and thank you all for making this year special.”

Kimball gave her classmates a summary of the experiences they had gone through together – from freshman year, when students had to wear masks, to senior sunrise at Hampton Beach and a class-wide sleepover in the teacher parking lot.

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan gave the commencement address, where she focused on the importance of caring, not just for one’s own life but also for the community, country and democracy as a whole.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Webster seized and sold his house for back taxes. Now the town has agreed to pay him $38,000
City considers proposal for sanctioned homeless encampment
Hillclimbs, nightlife and cruising: Enthusiasts flock to 102nd Laconia Motorcycle Week
A Webster property was sold for unpaid taxes in 2021. Now, the former owner wants his money back
‘The rug pulled out from under me’: For certain police and firefighters, last-minute changes to retirement deal breeds distrust
Preparing to say ‘I do’ – Inside the love story taking center stage at Market Days

“All progress in our country has been made by people who cared, even when it was tough, even when caring seemed cringy – because they believed in a better future and were willing to work hard to make it happen,” said Hassan. “The same way you all believed you could reach this field and work hard for four years at Merrimack Valley High.”

In her speech, Hassan quoted poet Robert Frost to urge students to understand that “hope is not found in a way out, but in a way through.”

Abigail Ciarametaro, who gave a student address on looking ahead, also quoted Frost.

“When I read one of his poems, ‘The Road Not Taken,’ I was captivated by the following verse: ‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,’” said Ciarametaro, whose favored Frost since seventh grade. “At the end of the day, my hope for you all today is to take your past years at Merrimack Valley High School and use what you learned about yourself to walk down your own path that is paved by your own unique experiences.”

Ciarametaro encouraged her classmates to be proud of themselves, while also not letting comparisons get the best of them.

“It’s important to hone in on your true self and appreciate all the hard work and dedication that brought you to not only here today, but will give you the everlasting push into the time ahead,” said Ciarametaro. “In the final analysis of life, there’s always going to be someone smarter, faster, or stronger, but never let that stop us from shining our light as bright as the sun.”

Yaa Bame can be reached at ybame@cmonitor.com