IRVINGTON, NJ — Irvington High School held its 137th commencement ceremony in the Richard Codey Arena in West Orange on Thursday, June 23.
Keia Smith was the valedictorian of the Irvington High School Class of 2016, and the guest speaker was music writer, producer and Irvington High School alumnus Al Sherrod Lambert.
“Statistics show that public speaking is the greatest fear of most American,” said Smith on Thursday, June 23. “But what if we really believed in ourselves? Our deepest fear is our own inner power. We ask ourselves: ‘Who am I to be gorgeous, talented, handsome, etc?’ We were all made to shine.”
Smith said shining brightly is what the Irvington High School Class of 2016 is all about and that the students have always shared their successes, talents and abilities with others.
“As we let ourselves shine, we empower others,” said Smith. “When you look back, it’s the small moments that count. As the eminent Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said: ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’”
Smith said the Irvington High School Class of 2016 knows all about overcoming challenges and controversy. She said they know about conquering personal and public fears, too, and the fact that they’ve had a lot of help and support and love along the way from family members, friends and others.
“It seems like yesterday we were all so scared to leave our mother’s arms,” said Smith. “High school can bring out of you the good, bad and ugly of life’s journey. Without some of the most amazing people in the world, we would not have been able to make it. Most importantly, I’d like to thank God and my parents for their endless fountain of unconditional love.”
Lambert echoed Smith’s sentiment about the value of reaching out to others for guidance, support and knowledge during times of struggle and doubt, and credited his time in the Irvington public schools and his friendships there for helping to make him the man that he is today.
“I’m a product of Irvington High School,” said Lambert on Thursday, June 23. “I want you to join me in saluting all the family, friends, administrators and teachers that helped us get to this point. I’m a product of Irvington High School and I want you to know that we are from good stock.”
Lambert urged the Class of 2016 to embrace their town, school and community and carry them along throughout their lives and future endeavors, as he has. He said when they start to doubt themselves and wonder whether they can really make it in life,they should always remember that Mayor Tony Vauss graduated from Irvington High School, too.
“I was a part of so many clubs, associations and networks that helped me get to the point I am in life after high school,” said Lambert. “It was the work of all those people that instilled in me a sense of community pride and community service.”
Lambert also said he used that same spirit of teamwork and cooperation to get help writing the speech he delivered to the Class of 2016. He said he turned to friends, family and others to tap into their wisdom to get the wise words he wanted to speak to the Irvington High School graduates on Thursday, June 23.
“My brother said: ‘This is the final roll call,’” said Lambert. “My uncle said to tell you not to sleep on your dreams. Anything that is not moving is either dead or asleep. You have to be awake to realize the American dream.”
Lambert said some of the Class of 2016 members “have to wake up” because “you can’t realize the American dream with sleep and stagnation.”
“You, the Class of 2016, have a chance for a fresh start,” said Lambert. “There’s nothing out there on the streets for any of you. Remember that in those seats that you’re sitting in once sat the current mayor, Tony Vauss; the current superintendent of Schools, Neely Hackett; the current public safety director, Tracey Bowers. We should never be ashamed of where we come from. We come from good stock.”
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