EVERETT – As 369 Marysville Getchell High School seniors received their diplomas Wednesday, nine gave speeches with varied messages.

Senior Officer Komal Gill encouraged them all to keep trying, no matter what. “As of today, we are removing the training wheels, and we may fall a lot. It’s the matter of getting back up and trying again,” Gill said.

“Don’t forget who and what made you into who you are today. We have a lot more growing to do. Be happy, be positive, and don’t ever give up.”

Class Treasurer Jon Thill said bad things in life happen to everyone so don’t let them get you down. “Don’t look at the difficulties and hardships as the end of the world, but instead learn from each one and understand that it’s just another bump in the road. Keep a positive attitude as you make your way through this complicated mess we call life, and always remember that your perspective on this world will determine how you journey past this point.” Student-selected speaker Shyann Fischer said don’t be afraid to fail.

“When I was seven I wanted to be Spiderman. When I was ten I wanted to be an actor. When I was thirteen I wanted to be a therapist. And now at seventeen, I still want to be Spiderman, but since I don ́t have spidey-senses I will settle for a police officer.

“Failing until you get what you want – failing forward. We cannot let the fear of failure distract us from all that we have accomplished and all that we will accomplish.”

Six valedictorians also gave speeches at Angel of the Winds Casino in Everett.

Kenzie Sumsion advised the learning doesn’t stop at high school. “We have new lessons to learn, interests to discover, skills and talents to develop, friends to make, places to explore, purposes to find and fulfill – endless exciting opportunities.”

Caden Natterstad talked about the difficult times many have gone through.

“Many of you that know who I am may have heard me speak about my adventures as a counselor at Cedar Springs Camp. I spend long weeks with middle school boys guiding and developing their faith and knowledge. To do this, I have conversations that may become deep and personal. Some are about loneliness, difficult parent relationships, stress, illness, isolation, bullying and other traumas. “With the horrific experiences that these boys went through, my eyes were opened.”

Fay Alarcon said they have overcome a lot and will overcome a lot more. “We’ve all had moments where we told ourselves we weren’t good enough. We’ve all convinced ourselves that we would fail. We’ve all let fear get in the way of taking on some incredible opportunities… Although there is nothing we can do to alter the past, we can learn and grow from our regrets to overcome the limits that have held us back too many times before.”

Thanunhu Tran reminded his classmates that even if they didn’t have academic success, all have something to be proud of. “While you should always put your best effort into school, everyone should recognize and be proud of their other strengths. Community service, athletic performance, and even simple friendliness are all things you should be proud of.”

Carson Mielke asked his fellow graduates to be sure to thank their teachers.

Maddie Corbett advised the students to take what they’ve learned and use it in the future. “Whether you’ve discovered your passion in life or you’re still searching for whatever that may be, you can still use the important values and skills that you have learned in this phase of your life and implement them into the new community that you will be a part of as the next phase begins.”

Outgoing superintendent Becky Berg encouraged the community to support schools. “This is a phenomenal school district,” she said.

She asked the voters to approve a school construction bond when one is put on the ballot again. “It’s not right for kids to go to schools older than their parents – or even grandparents,” Berg said. She added that the state legislature needs to change the law so it only requires 50 percent approval for such measures to pass.

Finally, she encouraged everyone to get involved. “There are no sidelines to sit on. Get in the game now,” Berg said.