Class Presidents' Messages/Class Histories

In the years between 1976-1978 God got mad at humanity. In response to the invention of Republicans, communism, and the atomic bomb, God produced what would become the Class of 1996 at Gorham High School. They descended, from near and far, like locusts upon the unknowing citizens of Gorham. Once a tight-knit community consisting of a dozen or so families, Gorham rapidly expanded into a town of "don't walk" signs, pollution ordinances, and a police force - the latter resulting in an immediate and ever-increasing demand for donuts at all the local stores.

The influx of "special" children into Gorham was not all bad; jobless parole officers suddenly had guaranteed employment if they knew where to go, as were those known to be handy with a stun gun.

As Gorham's unruly mob grew, matured (sort of), and graduated from class to class, word of mouth spread among each successive set of teachers, and thusly so did a sense of impending doom in those who had yet to experience them in the classroom. By the time they had reached high school, the class of '96 was commonly referred to as the "Class from Hell."

This class of Hellions wasn't all bad; they had a pretty good basketball team and a great ice hockey team, but as the years went by their reputation for some reason did not improve. Teachers retired, new ones took their place. A new school was built, new teaching methods and new requirements appeared, but as the class of '96 persevered so did their name.

We class officers, as one of our many time-wasting devices, discussed this last fact at length of our title as people want to do sometimes when they don't want to take the time to say the whole thing - this is how nicknames develop. We are, more officially, "The Class That's Been Through Hell" - and not only lived to tell the tale, but to graduate high school.

So as we graduate and leave our labels behind, bear in mind the fact that if we can make it through this we can make it through anything. And we, your class reps, want to say, as we all head out to face the big ugly world, "Give 'em Hell!"

• August 1993: We enter high school as freshmen, brimming with self confidence, and ready to tackle any challenges that are thrown at us. We vow to rule the school. The very next day the first challenge is thrown at us as upperclassmen enter the school with us. Self-confidence wavers, and we make a new vow: Not to get beaten up.

• October 1993: The first freshman class fundraiser goes off with stunning success thanks to the drives of our always energetic and hyper advisors Ms. Ray and Ms. Gilbert.

• August 1994: We return from a summer a little older and a little wiser. Construction is still going on around us but the new upstairs wing is opened, and we all agree it was well worth all of the distraction we faced last year.

• February 1995: With the completion of our new gym, we participate in our first Winter Carnival. We bravely defend our class poster from an angry mob of upperclassmen. It is rumored that injuries on their side number in the fifties.

• June 1995: We become the first sophomore class to ever attain the $2,500 mark in fundraising, thanks to such a dedicated class. 

• August 1995: As we enter the high school as upperclassmen for the first time we find a new confidence in ourselves, which teachers say unfortunately makes us more obnoxious. Construction is finally finished and the school looks great.

• February 1996: We put on a very strong showing at Winter Carnival but the self-proclaimed "Class from Hell" pulls out a very shady victory. We taunt them with the battle cry "MEA's! MEA's!"

• March 1996: Propelled by free bagels and the prospect of a pizza party and a shaved head, we tackle the MEA's.

• August 1996: We enter the school after a wild summer vacation to rightfully take our places as SENIORS. Somehow after everything we've been through, the title fits. We start the last year of our grueling high school careers. Living up to our reputation as a hardworking class, we all set in to diligently work at our studies. That lasted about three days. The always fun college application process begins.

• November 1996: MEA scores are counted and we failed to attain our goal. The scores are then recounted when a scoring mistake is found. On announcements, senior class representatives shave Mr. Rogers' head. Thanks to his new haircut he gains many new nicknames, such as Drill Sergeant and cue ball.

• February 1997: We sweep Winter Carnival in a stunning victory. Sophomores deserve special congratulations for putting juniors in their place. We were never that overconfident, were we?

• March 1997: College responses start pouring in. Senior class officers decline Harvard's offer to just take our whole class. First medically reported case of senioritis is found. It spreads like wildfire, rampant in our class. Teachers say that the words whiners and slackers take on new meanings.

• Future History: Who knows? Our class has so much potential, we could have future presidents, professional athletes, authors, doctors, and hopefully no lawyers. The future is what we want to make it. Whether your plans are just to graduate and get out of here, or if they reach a wider goal than that, always remember the times you've had here, the friends you've made. We've come a long way, but the journey has just begun.

The Class of 1999 started to develop their character as we entered Narragansett and White Rock Schools in 1986. We came together in the "new" Village School. Six years later, we entered the new and improved high school. Mrs. Durgin took on the role of our class advisor. As sophomores, we had raised more money than any other class. That same year, we achieved an unprecedented upset as we beat the juniors at Winter Carnival, and repeated as runners-up our junior year. As seniors we were crowned "Winter Carnival Champions" as expected. We have survived the I-Search Paper, American Studies, Public Policy Paper, British Author Paper, MEAs, SATs, Homecomings, and Proms. This century "Saves the Best for Last," as we become the final class to graduate from GHS.

Graduation approaches, and as we, the class of 2001, look back on our years together and we find fond memories and some we may actually want to forget. Yes, it's been a long, hard road, and we've hit plenty of potholes: the schedule changes, the lack of parking stickers our junior year, the loss of late Wednesdays...the list goes on and on. And the fiasco at our junior year homecoming parade probably speaks for itself, huh? Recall the disgraceful losing streak of the two years we actually had a Winter Carnival? As freshmen, picking up the seniors'...oh no wait...the sophomores' trash at lunch.

We've all endured the pain inflicted by the MEA's, eighth grade exhibition projects, I-Search Paper, the difference project, SAT's, the Public Policy Paper, and the British Author Paper at least once, so there's no sense in reliving them now. But, it's best not to reminisce about the past unless we spend most of our space on the 'good times, good fun.'

The fondest memories are of the times when we truly came together as a class, as rarely as those times may have occurred in high school. We'll always remember the camping trip; it will live in infamy. And surprisingly, a lot of us actually showed up for our senior year homecoming pep rally, making us look like we actually had some school spirit. Maybe the best thing to include in this class history is the fact that we came together, finally, and we have become better friends.

Now let's take a step back in time and remember all that came before. It's impossible to mention the junior high years without mentioning the dances: the essential songs like YMCA, Stairway to Heaven; the Hokey-Pokey...The never-ending Freedom Trail that some groups walked and others just quit and went shopping instead. The unspoken feud between the houses; Royal vs. Kennebec, Crooked vs. Wild. The cookouts and the other infamous camping trip. Staying after for eighth period. The gymnastics shows at the end of the year. The Camp Kieve climbing course and the trips to Range Pond.

Going even further back, the village V. Mrs. Ireland and the math superstars. Kickball competitions and playing four square. 'The' fire drill that sent us out in the cold for hours. The naked man running through the woods. The talent shows and ice skating trips.

As far back as we can go now...White Rock and Narragansett. Gym shows and Halloween parades. Coming together for the Valentine's Day square dance. Friday nights at Happy Wheels. The Wackadoo Zoo and Get Hoppin'. The feuds between us at field days. Thinking we would hate each other forever.

The years have passed us by in a flash and we have come to the end of our bumpy road. As we part ways here, always remember the good times we had, cherish the memories, and never forget each other, class of 2001.

As graduation approaches, our plans for the future seem more within our reach. Yet every morning that we wake up and realize the uncertainty of it all, we become awestruck when faced by the endless possibilities. The memories that the class of 2002 have gained through the years will always be a part of each of us.

In our younger years, we were separated as White Rockers and Narragansetters. Being joined together in Village School was a drastic change. Field days became a much-anticipated competition in elementary school and who can forget the "snowball" fights in Mr. Speed's gym class?

Just when we thought we ruled the school in sixth grade, we graduated to Shaw Middle School. Our first taste of freedom came with our seven classes and our very own lockers. Semi-formal dances and mountains of homework filled our free time. Who can forget the "great flood" in seventh grade? Certainly not the Royal House who had their picture day or the few walkers who had to swim home. Then in eighth grade we survived the Ice Storm. At Shaw we were separated into Wild, Crooked, Royal and Kennebec Houses. It was not until movin' on up to Gorham High School that our class finally came together.

High school was quite the experience freshman year. Together we enjoyed late Wednesdays and festivities like Winter Carnival where we beat the sophomores, an unspeakable thing for a frosh class to do. We also endured changes that our sophomore year brought: new schedules that did not include late Wednesdays, a ruling that Winter Carnival would no longer be held, ASVABs (more standardized testing...), and English and history combined in American Studies. But no one can forget our sophomore efforts, wearing blue for the spirit rally and face painting in the cafeteria. Junior year marked the coming of our college searches, PSATs, British Author Papers, and MEAs - not to mention the fire drill during our Homecoming dance. We showed our school and class spirit by designing and buying class T-shirts for the winter spirit rally, and were victorious over all in the tug-of-war competition. The spirit cup was finally awarded to us after last year's seniors were stripped of the title for stealing our beloved mascot.

Senior year finally has arrived with a bang as we again won the spirit cup for our homecoming efforts. The hallways were decked with the slogan "2002 is Golden" and our floats were unsurpassed in the homecoming parade. Now all of us are caught up in SATs, college applications, plans after high school, and scholarships. Still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; we are the first class to graduate in the air-conditioned Merrill Auditorium. We made it this far, and it's only the beginning. We have laughed and moaned together, and may even say goodbye at the end of the year, but we will always have the memories, and the reunions to come!

In the beginning there was nothing. Then there was the class of 2003.

We were united at Little Falls Kindergarten where we spent our first of many years together. Our first memory must be the Mother Goose play, and most of us admit we are ashamed of the roles we played. Then, alas, we were split up into two different schools, White Rock and Narragansett, and yet we endured. This brought falling down on the playground and being champions in dodgeball. Together again at Village School we were reunited again as a class. V was for victory, Village, but was also for quiet. We learned about homework in small amounts, including "Superstars." Who could forget the money WE raised for the currently standing playground through Math-a-Thons and Dreambuilders. After 3 years of this we moved up to Charles C. Shaw Middle School, and were denied the chance to play on our masterpiece. We got over it though, and moved on to having seven teachers a year and braving that old building. We had to go in even earlier in the morning and during these years we suffered the struggle of climbing the social ladder. And yet, we endured.

To the high school we would go with the promise of late Wednesdays and school with older kids, teenagers. Turns out the beloved late Wednesday was taken away from us along with the anticipated Winter Carnival. Then the years began to pass. Just like any other class we got through I-Searches, driving tests, SATs, MEAs, British Authors, labs, and college essays. 

For three years we have watched classes come and classes go. Now, it is our turn to leave, and we surely deserve it. We have friends from the past and friends right now but there is one thing we all have in common; we are the Gorham High School Class of Two Thousand Three. Good luck to all of us.

We, the Class of 2004, take a long, hard look at our past, and realize that our final year at Gorham High School is approaching its end. Now we must follow our own path, and see where it leads us. It has been long, but now we are at our journey's end, only to be left with a larger one ahead of us. Though we may leave this high school with a sigh of relief or an exulting laugh, we will never forget the memories that we have all shared here: the pep rallies, the dances, our teachers, our friends, and the experiences that will follow us for the rest of our lives. This is not the end, it is the beginning.

Help! It's the MEAs! No wait! It's the MEAs, the SATs, the British Author Paper, the I-Search, Henry David Thoreau, and our driving test!! Ah good times...or not. It is a nice feeling to have them done and over with, though we weren't thinking about that when we were forced to do those assignments.

Charles C. Shaw Middle School. Getting used to an eight period day, different teachers every hour, and no recess made junior high school most unbearable - but that was the way it was going to be, and we adapted. We said goodbye to Shaw School our eighth grade year, and waved farewell to the chipping paint, leaking ceiling tiles and glue sticks pegged horizontally to the walls.

Now here we are, the diploma is finally ours, all four years crammed into that small paper. We go our separate ways now, either to more schooling or straight into the working world - it does not matter which one we choose, because our memories of Gorham High School will be with us for the rest of our lives.

And so it began, for many of us, over twelve years ago, only miles away from where our Gorham education now dwindles, and the memories of it begin. Looking back at kindergarten pictures one can discern a glimmer in the eyes of their old classmates; the very same glimmer that could be seen in the eyes of our prom dates, best friends, acquaintances, and albeit, perhaps a nemesis or two.

However, many faces were still missing. We picked up a few more classmates at Narragansett or White Rock Schools, as we played innocent on the playground, at gym or art, or on the bus rides home.

Our class itself first came together fully for fourth grade at Village School, in 1996. Our dreams were massive, and our heads were held high. We never imagined the journey that we would be undertaking during the eight years to follow.

Our three years at Village passed all too quickly, yet junior high seemed to pass not quite quickly enough, as we entered the crumbling antique known as Charles C. Shaw Junior High. Shaw School it was called, and it was during our two years here that many of us truly started to grow up, first experiencing the disasters known as zits, rejection, and detention. Yet we survived, and, dare I say, flourished. For here, as well as at good old Gorham High School, we learned about ourselves and discovered our true passions, ranging from the arts to athletics to, horrors, academics.

Yet none of us will ever forget our first days at GHS. Green little freshmen. Yet we grew up, whether we did so too quickly or too slowly, I guess we shall never know. We watched as the upperclassmen; our heroes, role models, and friends, all became seniors and marched out of the school, leaving us to swallow their dust and blaze a trail of our own.

And what a trail we did blaze, taking fine arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities and organizations by storm. Wherever you entered on this path to a GHS graduation in 2005, you added your wisdom and personality to a class hundreds of teachers raved about. Soon we shall move on, off to follow our dreams, wherever they may be found, whether they be in college or working world, America or beyond. Now it is left to our GHS successors to attempt to fill the massive void caused by our absence. And believe me, that void is larger than you realize.

For many of us, this journey started thirteen years ago, in a small classroom, filled with nervous toddlers. Clutching our parents' hands, we were shell shocked, not understanding how fast our education would fly by. The years progressed, we moved from grade to grade modeling ridiculous haircuts and leggings. We lost some friends and made new ones, quickly gaining inches and maturity.

Before we could blink, we were at Village. In fourth grade, we started our nervous journey all over again, small fish in a big pond. We gained a year, and when starting 5th grade, we were pros; we looked at the shaky fourth graders with sympathetic amusement and envied our sixth grade peers. By the next year, we were ready for middle school, and our big pond looked miniscule. We were destined for Shaw.

Though our beloved Shaw was disheveled and slightly hazardous, it was the closet thing to adolescence we had ever known. We learned maturity in a way no other 8th graders had, through our nation's need for unity. We experienced many first at Shaw, our first dances, first "relationships," first kisses, and first lockers, first detentions, and our first glimpse of freedom.

Our next step was high school. Although our first year flew by, our high school days seemed to stand still. We walked in on the first day freshman year and looked up to the seniors as gods, with their college applications and life plans worked out. They were sports stars, musical sensations, and super geniuses. They were what we aspired to be, and four years could not come soon enough. Despite the overwhelming accomplishments of our fellow students, our class began to set standards from the start, in sports, the arts, and academics. We continued onto sophomore year; we were invincible, feeling as if we ruled the school with only one year under our belt. The feeling of invincibility followed us into junior year, where we were confronted by SATs and prom. Now, we find ourselves in the final hour. Senior year. The godlike feeling has disappeared, and has been replaced by an overwhelming fear of change and excitement. In some ways, we are the same 14 year olds who walked in on an early day in September, eager for what is to come. But now we are being pushed towards the future, to the schools we will attend, to the jobs we will hold, to the loves we will find and to the experiences we will grow old with. As a class, we met the precedents set by our elders, and achieved greatness in every aspect of high school, and I know that we will continue this tradition everywhere we go.

Congratulations and good luck class of '06!

This is it, the finale, thirteen years of education behind each and every one of us; we entered quietly, and yet we now exit with a crescendo, trumpeting forth our glorious successes borne of impossible dreams. We have been through it all, and now we emerge stronger for it. 

Let us recall the remarkable odds stacked against us, for it was no easy road which led us here. In eighth grade, we were simultaneously handed every possible difficulty, and yet even those seemingly insurmountable obstacles were not able to deter us. I rest assured that the memory of Shaw Middle School still prevails in all of our minds, a forgotten land of scholasticism into which one might enter and never again emerge, literally. We sat at our desks as teachers whispered of the new middle school that was to come, forever solidifying our class's honor of being the last group of students to survive Shaw, even as the class below us received their new personal laptops, gleaming all too brightly in their shiny new school. Perhaps then it was with a spirit of recompense that our educators again allowed notoreity to fall upon our class, this time in the form of those often imitated, yet never duplicated, Maine Learning Results. There really isn't another feeling in the world comparable to taking a test and knowing that whether or not you will be allowed to graduate high school, regardless of whatever grades you might earn, rests solely on your ability to identify the longtitude and latitude of an obscure city in India.

Naturally, this was followed with a new SAT, for it was only appropriate, after decades without change, that the test should be revolutionized just in time for our class to take it.

Still, we have persevered, and our graduation from this school, the fourth and final one we share together, will undoubtedly be our greatest. With the challenges of the past behind us, we march on into the future, one that each of us is more than capable of changing. Fear naturally accompanies growth, but through this I know we shall all prosper. Wherever we may travel next year, whatever our endeavors may be, I am confident, in no uncertain terms, that the world rests in good hands.

For the last 12 years life has been all about education, but education is the last thing I remember when I think back on our past. Our memories are not filled with math equations and history facts, but instead with sports games and parties. We built reputations only to have them knocked down. We made new friends and lost some old ones, and all along the way we learned and grew as people. Leadership, responsibility, and initiative (I think I can safely say that our class was the first to produce its own snow day) are all traits that have been taught to us and in turn have been displayed throughout our years in the Gorham school system. Although some of us have been lost and others have been picked up, many of us in the class of 2008 have been here from beginning to end and all of us have spent some time receiving an education in Gorham.

It started with kindergarten where we learned to cut, color and glue, something that some of us never should have made it through. We also starred in our first play, Billy Goats Gruff.

Some of us moved on to Narragansett, others to White Rock. There we discovered kickball and what a real playground was. At Village it was more of the same, and recess became our favorite subject. We also learned what a distraction a Nerf football can be when taken apart and left unattended.

When we reached the middle school we were able to experience Shaw, long since past its prime, before it was wisely closed down. We were rewarded for working through the conditions by being the first group into the new middle school. There as a group we were separated by houses for the last time. When we graduated middle school, we were on our way to the last chapter of our K-12 years.

Moving up from the new middle school where we were the top dogs to the bottom level of the high school was a big change. However, once we had adjusted to being freshmen and all the benefits that came with that status, we stormed through the next three years, picking up both athletic and academic accomplishments along the way. We became known as the bubble group because of both our size and our wide range of talents. I could list off achievements and brag about our superiority, but I will refrain from stating the obvious. Instead I'll say that this class, the class of '08, has been one that will be remembered. Who knows what we will do after this, but I do know that wherever we go we will leave our mark, just as we have here in Gorham.

While looking for a good quote I found one that said "A witty saying means nothing," but I ignored it and put the next one in anyway.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford

As our time together at Gorham High School draws to a close, we face a field of mixed emotion. Utter jubilation will doubtlessly arise as we march down the aisle at Merrill Auditorium, armed with diplomas and a well-deserved sense of accomplishment. This sudden elation, however, will inevitably be tempered by a poignant, sinking feeling as we digest the fact that we will never again return to GHS as students. Most of us will agree that our time together in Gorham has been a great 13 year long ride and it's not easy to understand what life will be like as we go around the next curve on our own. Despite this uncertainty, I expect that collective euphoria will win out and graduation will be long remembered as one of the finest days of our teenage years.

Our journey to the joyous pinnacle of graduation had humble beginnings. Due to Gorham's geography, our class was never fully united until we entered Village School. Prior to this, some of us had the chance to be greeted by name every morning as we stepped off the school bus by Mr. Sherry; others had the benefit of attending the cozy and decaying White Rock School. The cheery Village community offered lengthy recesses and a carefree environment. The only cloud on our Village horizon involved whispers and rumors about the decrepit, potentially perilous, next stop on our educational journey: Shaw School. The terrors of no recess and tales of four-hour long detention periods loomed until something amazing happened: the creation of the new middle school.

Proud to be the first class to inhabit this new place of education for a full three years, we all took ready advantage of our sparkling new dwelling and the unfamiliar independence that came along with it. In our new playground, rigid social groups were formed, new armpit hair was discovered, and rules during the "Sustained Silent Reading" period were universally violated. Amidst the swirling scene that was middle school, it is difficult for any of us to recall what was actually learned or accomplished.

That may be one reason why a teacher (who shall remain unnamed) labeled us as "the worst class I have ever seen in all my years of teaching." I can't say that we didn't provide some reason for faculty angst but could we really have been that bad? There is no escaping the fact that our middle school days will live forever in infamy. Puerile acts of rowdiness occurred daily. Teachers were left scratching their heads as they contemplated the havoc we were sure to wreak in our next field of battle: Gorham High School. There was no doubt that our spotty reputation preceded us as we were welcomed by a cringing high school faculty, ears full of what a nightmare their next four years were sure to be.

Fast forward to Spring 2010; dread has turned to respect and our class reputation has dramatically and rightfully improved. The Class of 2010 has emerged as a cohesive group of unique individuals, well-prepared to tackle whatever challenges and opportunities lie in front of us. We have blossomed into maturity as a class, and I'm sure that each one of us will agree that the Gorham High School community has served us exceedingly well. For that, we all say thank you. Now, as we set out on our individual endeavors, it is clear to all that the members of the Class of 2010 have made a lasting and positive contribution to GHS and are well-positioned to do great things in the next phasse of their lives.

Classmates, I congratulate you, I thank you for an unforgettable high school experience, and I look forward to sustaining our friendships over time.

So...2011 is finally here, and we're finally experiencing what it's like to be "big bad seniors" at Gorham High School. Senioritis is rampant and most of us have more trouble getting up in the morning than ever before, even though now some of us can do it at 9:00. We have trouble doing homework worse than ever before, even if it's a two question physics worksheet that we could in any other year finish in a good 2-3 seconds. We're stressed (or absolutely not) about our future college lives, struggling to finish those supplement essays, or those evil scholarship essays. And most unfortunately, although we're having a B.A. senior year, many of us have had quite enough of Gorham High School.

This isn't a horrible thing though, because we've been able to have an almost infinite amount of good times over the last 12ish years. From Wackadoo Zoo to The Music Man, from Mrs. Baker to Ms. Herlihy, we've been incredibly blessed to have such an amazing school career. We've never had any infamous class vandals or Facebook trolls (with some exceptions), no noticeable class divisions, and only a limited amount of "drama," most of which existing solely on Facebook. We've been a pretty tightknit group for as long as I can remember, even when we got to high school and found out that it was okay to be friends with older and younger people. The most noticeable difference from us and other classes, however, isn't really describable at all. We've just always been a much more mellow group of people; we've always just had fun, and never gone to extremes to get attention. Congrats Class of 2011!

There's a rule in life. You're either growing or you're dying. A tree is either growing, or it's dying. So does a business, so does a class, so does a person. The Gorham High School Class of 2012 is growing. In the fourth grade, two separate schools were joined to make one class. It was an awkward time at first. In a town so spread out, one would not figure that a class joined so late would bond so closely and smoothly. One would be wrong. The class of 2012 did just that. Lifelong friendships were formed and though the economic necessities may carry many of us away from Gorham, these friendships will endure.

Every member of this class had the potential to play a major role in the future to come. I have no doubt that in some way we will all play a role and not settle for second best when the best is within our grasp. There is no comparison, at least in my eyes, between any graduating class past, present, and future. We are a unique class graduating during a unique time. The economic and social adversities of the era and of this area could have put a strain on the class of 2012. It has not. I am proud to graduate among these fine men and women. Had I been born a different year, and joined a different class, I would have missed knowing some of the finest people I will ever meet. I hope that none of us will lose sight of just how great this experience has been. One might ask, is the Class of 2012 the last great class? Maybe.

We are faced with the undeniable fact that we must move on, like it or not. Many will go on to college or join the workforce or military. I know that wherever we go we are, and always will be the class of 2012. This class was born to greatness. Greatness that cannot be measured by wealth, popularity or looks of any of the false qualities that our society gives value to. True greatness comes from and is measured from within. It is a greatness that I see everyday in my classmates and it is that greatness that is growing and will continue to grow.

It's been a pleasure knowing each of you.

Class of 2013,

What a senior year it has been. We have all come so very far in the last four years, and this year has been the icing on the cake. We have come closer together as a class, sharing in the victories, and the losses. We have been there for each other whenever we needed it. I am grateful we have been able to share so many moments together over the last four years.

It's been an honor being your president for the last three years. I want to thank you all for making everything we have done possible. I couldn't have accomplished anything without help. Max, Meaghan, and Cassie have all done so much, at times receiving little recognition. We have enjoyed doing it all, and are proud of all that has come out of the last three years. From standing out by the roadside trying to get cars to stop for a car wash, to knocking on doors for bottle drives, or selling seat cushions at sporting events, even sitting in the Snack Shack in the mornings selling hot chocolate, and helping out with a blood drive. We have stood together cheering for sports, we laughed and cried during drama productions, and we supported each other when we lost our dear friend Tim Stickney. We have endured through long block days, stressful exams, and crazy schedules. Though many challenges have been put before us, both inside the classroom and out, we have stayed together and grown stronger as a class. We have had a long journey together, and that journey has now come to a new fork in the road where we will all go in many different directions.

Class of 2013, we will be remembered. We have changed this school in so many ways. Whether on a sports team, in a drama, in a painting or mural, or in a club, each one of us has done something to change this school. We have been the best class to pass through these halls in many years. We are the Class of 2013, and our legacy will live on for many years to come. 

Best wishes to you all.

I remember the first day of freshman year. We walked into school hesitantly and crowded the lobby, clinging to our groups of friends for being left alone in such an unknown environment. I remember how small I felt as I looked up at the seniors. They walked with a gait of seniority, knowing that this was their year. We were all so nervous. We worried about first impressions and made sure not to get trampled in the hallways as we searched aimlessly for our classes. I remember Mr. Record telling us how fast the next four years would go by, and I remember not believing him.

Sometimes I question if I really am a senior. I look back and remember being an underclassman so vividly. I made my four year plan but was unable to imagine myself in my fourth year. Yet, here we are; kings and queens of the school; the top of the totem pole. We have all come such a long way, pressing on through the adversity and the obstacles that life has put in front of us. We have progressed and reinvented ourselves in preparation for the next steps of our lives. I look back at pictures and memories from years past and laugh at how young we once were. I find myself wondering if we will look back in another four years and think the same thing. 

As the time until graduation has ticked down and senioritis has kicked in, it has started to hit me that one part of our lives is coming to an end. Many of us have been on this journey since kindergarten, and many more of us have joined along the way. Next year we will leave the nest and head down our own paths. We will meet new people, we will experience new things, and maybe we will even feel small again. Once again we will have an opportunity to make a fresh start, and we will make decisions that no one else can make for us.

As our days together keep getting less and less, I think about the impressions that we have made on GHS. Although we will be leaving at the end of this school year, we will all leave our mark. Today we only have a little time to make our final impressions, and tomorrow we will have less. Yet, I am excited because I know that we, the class of 2014, will give something for GHS to remember us by. We will make one hell of a last impression.

In 2011, we walked into GHS nervous and unsure of what would befall us. Over the course of our four years here we have learned a great deal of content, experienced amazing things, and made lasting friendships. All of which will last beyond our school years. That is the goal of high school or any other academic institution you may attend, to develop relationships with the people around you and to learn from them, so that it will have a lasting effect on you. The effect of those relationships won't be temporary or a simple passing of a phase of some sort, but a lasting effect that will allow you to grow as an individual. Successful and accomplished individuals are not just born. They develop after substantial amounts of effort through strenuous tasks and learning from the achievements and failure of others.

We, as the Class of 2015, have certainly shown that we are a successful class and that we are able to learn from our previous mistakes. We have also shown that we are a hardworking class. An example of this is when we were faced with the task of raising sufficient funds for our graduation. We overcame this task with effort and unity.

We, as the Class of 2015, will go down in Gorham history as one of the most successful classes Gorham High School has seen. our success can only be attributed to the efforts of our entire class.

Thank you, Class of 2015, for the unity and the effort you have shown thus far. Many of you will be very successful in your lives because you are a group of individuals who care more about the group than about petty selfish gains. I want also to thank you all for the amazing four years of high school and especially for the last two years. It was a pleasure.

As you are about to leave high school and begin your pursuit for a career, remember all the things that allow you to be where you are today. Remember not only your own effort, but also the effort of those around you who allowed you to reach your potential.

I wish you the best of luck and satisfaction in your achievements.

Thank you.

We started senior year by gathering in the parking lot to show how this was our year to own the school. Funny to think four years ago we gathered in the lobby, too scared to wander off. Now we walk throug the halls like we own the place. Great things happened here while we were putting in our time; we won multiple athletic championships, performed acclaimed shows and added murals to make our school better. We remember painful Euro tests, Rocky Myers' kickball, and Mr. Adams' fire in the park. All things that have made an impact on our time here.

This school year has flown by as they always seem to do. However, this time is very different for us, as we will not be returning in the fall as the class of 2016. Where we go from here spans the globe, with no two of us on the same courses. Some of us have spent our entire lives in the Gorham Schools, every year the same faces plus a few new kids and minus the ones that moved away. This is to be no more, we now split as the beginning of the rest of our lives are created with every new step. A few of the ever-so-familiar faces may never cross our paths again. However, each and every one of us has left our mark on someone else and on Gorham High School. To our friends we will be remembered forever and to our school we will be hailed as legends and every student to walk the same halls we have will feel our presence. Go forth Class of 2016 and leave your mark on the rest of the world.

Class of 2017,

Today, as you turn your tassel and walk out of these oddly colored green doors for the last time, think back to the first time you walked through them. Think back to who you were just four short years ago. Think back to the ambitious dreams, nervous anticipation, and excitement that ran through you as you pushed open those pine tree green doors. Now look at who you are today. Look at all that you have become and all you are going to become as we head our separate ways.

Today we all begin a new journey. For the last 13 years we have gone along this crazy ride together, but today we are parting ways. All I have for you is one piece of advice: remember your roots. Remember all of the teachers who pushed you to succeed, your friends who you spent countless nights driving down Main Street with, your family who supported you through everything, and the little freshman who is still somewhere inside of you. It is because of them that you are who you are today. It is because of the memories that this building created for us and because of the beauty in life that we discovered here. We all carry a little part of GHS inside of us and I hope none of you ever forget it - I know I never will.

As you walk through those emerald green doors for the last time today, remember them. As they close, thousands of new doors are opening, but no doors will ever be quite the same as the oddly colored green ones we have here at jolly GHS.

Thank you guys, for the memories. I wish you all the success in the world and I can't wait to see what you will achieve. Make GHS proud.

Class of 2018,

On June 10th when we walk out of Merrill Auditorium with our diplomas in hand and huge smiles on our faces, we will be spending one of our last times together with the people we grew up with, with the people who have defined nearly every aspect of our lives. Since we entered high school, 1,461 days have gone by, and in those days we have gone on to do some pretty impressive things. We have won state champions, put on countless performances and concerts in MPAC, persevered through hours of writing essays and studying for tests, and for some of us probably began to discover the type of person we hope to be in this world. We have made memories that will last a lifetime, and more importantly made friends who will stick with us forever. We have done so much, yet the period that constitutes our high school experience only makes up a little over 5% of our lives. What we have accomplished and who we have become in these four years is something that should always be remembered, but we also have the ability to go on and do so much more in our lives. Going by the average statistics, 13% of us will own our own business, 17% will work for the government, and just over 10% of us will become intimately involved with nonprofit organizations.

We have the rest of our lives to reach for the stars, and while doing so always be passionate, always get excited about the little things, and never stop learning. As we leave Gorham High and begin the rest of our lives, there is one thing that should stay with us all: remember our roots. Don't forget where it all started. Inevitably our lives will take on their own identities, and although many of us will leave Gorham, we will always be the Class of 2018, graduates of GHS. No matter what part of the globe you choose to explore, know that there will always be this beautiful state up in the corner of the country which we can call home. I wish everyone the absolute best in their future endeavors, and I can't wait to see what we will all go on to accomplish.

Dear Class of 2019,

What a ride it has been! We have been the class of changes from new schedules, new principals, new counselors, and a new grading system. In a few years, our school will look completely different from when we were here. The bathrooms that cannot close will be gone, the overflowing sinks in the locker rooms will be gone, and the cramped lunchroom will be gone.

I know how exhausted we have been from all these changes and we are now facing the biggest change of them all - jumping off from our GHS safety net into the unknown. I, like many of you, have spent many sleepless nights filled with the dread of not knowing where I will go or who I will become.

And now Class of 2019, I remind you that we have been given a marvelous gift. We have been given the gift of resilience. We have survived new schedules, new administration, and the infamous new grading system. We made the best of these situations. We excelled in athletics and the arts, crushed our academics, and developed passions through our activism. If we can thrive even when our school was changing, then we can be confident we can succeed in the changing world.

Class of 2019, we did it! In just a short amount of time we will be marching across Merrill stage. No longer will we be slaving over homework or walking to the portables in the pouring rain. Class of 2019, this is our time. Now go forth and change the world!

Class of 2020,

Throughout the last four years we have made countless memories that will last the rest of our lives. We have met new people, and have turned them into our close friends. We have developed new interests, and pursued them. We have struggled through many obstacles, but we have persevered and have become stronger and smarter because of them. In 2016, we entered jolly GHS thinking that we would be spending four painstakingly long years before finally leaving for the real world. Yet, somehow our time here is already at its end. Realize how much you have grown since first entering high school. Be proud of the achievements that you have earned here, and be passionate about your ideas, and stand up for what you believe in. Take your first steps into this new world confidently, and know that if you work hard, you will succeed. It is my genuine belief that we will be the group of people who will change the world for the better.

COVID-19 (short for Coronavirus disease 2019) is a member of a family of viruses that cause respiratory illness in humans. The name "corona" comes from the many crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. The description fits both its physical attributes as well as its commanding influence, like the crown-wearing kings and queens of history. Who would have thought a microscopic organism could rule the whole world and cause such turmoil? I remember thinking last March in 2020 when we closed for two weeks that it was a nice break from school. Then that break extended through April vacation. I honestly thought we were going back after that. But we didn't. Surely this couldn't last all the way through our senior year, could it? That's what I kept telling myself, as I'm sure many of you were as well.

I can look back to freshman, sophomore, and part of junior year and remember watching the seniors celebrate their last year of high school with their breakfast in the parking lot, senior section in the stands, and leading the cheer at pep rallies. I remember feeling excited that one day that would be us, the Class of 2021. But here we are today, wearing masks, sitting 6 feet apart, avoiding social gatherings, and seeing only half of our peers at school at any one time. Many of you know me as the type of person who looks at a glass being half full, to see the silver lining in any situation, I often encourage you as well to look on the bright side of life. But class, we have experienced loss, a huge loss of our hopes and dreams of how we would end our high school careers. It is appropriate for us to mourn the 40% of our high school lives that were taken away from us.

Once we graduate, however, we cannot dwell on the past. This part of our lives is complete and we must move on to our future paths. Do not allow this year to become a weight attached to your shoulders where you lament on the "should have been's" or the "if only's." Yes, recognize the loss, mourn, then allow yourself permission to move forward.

I remember the first day of school this year in English. Ms. Herlihy asked our class how we were feeling. Almost all of said we were grateful and excited to be sitting in a classroom in the same room with our peers and teacher. Think back to freshman year. None of us would have said that. Although COVID-19 has taken much away, it has given us the rare opportunity to live life stripped down to its barest bones. We now notice the little things, such as being grateful for having some sense of normalcy, being in school, and graduating together. So when the world returns to its original state, reflect often on your expanded gratitude and remember the little things. Think back to this senior year as a year of extreme loss yet a gain of valuable experience.

We learned how to persevere. We learned how to value the small moments that make us happy. And we somehow learned an unimaginable skill of being separated by staying united. I am glad to be a graduate of the Class of 2021, and I am so proud of the resiliency of our class. Cheers to tomorrow.

Dear Class of 2022,

It's hard to believe that we're here. The end of high school came too fast, and somehow we're already graduating. We have all matured and grown more than I think we ever imagined. I'm proud of all that we have achieved.

Often in our lives, we race from one activity to the next. We push ourselves to stay involved, be social, and excel in our classes. High school goes by in a blur - one year blending into the next. In the midst of our busy schedules, we usually forget to stop and pause for a moment. To look at how far we've come. To look at all we've accomplished.

I am incredibly proud of us and all the hard work we've put into making it this far. Our high school experience was nothing close to what we pictured; nevertheless, we handled it with grace, poise, and strength. I am proud of us for making it through those days when we wanted to sleep through classes. Those days when our motivation felt nonexistent. We made it through those days and many more.

If someone told me sophomore year that my final years of high school would be interrupted by a global pandemic, I would have laughed at them - and maybe Googled what a pandemic means. Every class tells themselves that they have learned resilience from the events they faced in high school, but our generation is uniquely special. Thirty years from now, I don't think any of us will forget what we experienced; we made it through the unthinkable. While we may be wishing to finally stop hearing about COVID, at some point I believe we will look back on this time with admiration.

Class of 2022, my message to you is to take a moment every so often and congratulate yourself. It isn't easy navigating our world in this day and age. However, the lessons we have learned and the experiences we hold from these last four years are enough to last a lifetime. They will carry us through whatever we may face next. Be kind to yourself, and proud of how far you've made it. There's so much further to go.

It has been my honor to serve as your class president.

Thank you.

Dear Class of 2023,

It feels like just yesterday was our first day as freshmen at GHS. These past four years have been some of the best of my life and looking back it's hard to believe that we have already graduated. While it feels like high school came and went faster than we could have imagined, every day I am impressed by how much we have grown. I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made over these past four years and I'm excited to see what the future holds for us.

It's easy to be distracted by our busy lives and take for granted the time we have spent here. So much time has been spent working in classes and focusing on our extracurriculars that when the day comes and we graduate, we wonder "how is it already over." Staying busy has led to us all being successful students and well-rounded members of our community but it makes it hard for us to slow down and remember to cherish the time we have had together.

It's not hard to say that these past four years have not been easy by any means. Going through high school during a global pandemic and coming out the other side more mature, kind, and curious is something that we should all be proud of for the rest of our lives. The adversity we have faced and the challenges we have overcome should not and will not be overlooked. While rewarding, it is easy to say that high school is not easy; growing up never is. However, watching this class develop together as not just students but as individuals was a privilege and I will always thank you for that.

My message to you is to take what you have learned here and apply it to the outside world. You have come far in these four years and you will continue to grow as you go out into the world. Use the skills you have been taught and the values you hold close to and make a positive impact on the world. Every one of us has something to give and I am confident that we are all smart enough, kind enough, and brave enough to give it to others. I do not expect our lives to become easy now that we have graduated but I do expect us to be better prepared for adversity. You have accomplished something incredible and it is up to you to go forward and use it to make the world a better place.

I cannot overstate how much of an honor and privilege it has been to serve this class as your class president.

Thank you.

Dear Class of 2024,

First of all, I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to each and every member of the class of 2024. We did it. I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this immensely supportive, successful, and inspiring group of students and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. With such an impressive spread of talent, from academics, to athletics, to the art, music, and theater programs, to our skilled camera crews and our Voc. students, it is evident that we will not only leave a lasting impact on GHS, but our ripple will continue onto our upcoming ventures as well.

Over the last four years, we have faced serious adversity, overcome strenuous hardship, and grown in ways we might never have expected. I am extremely proud of the strength and perseverance we have displayed through seemingly impossible circumstances and our ability to become better people because of them. As I reflect on our past experiences, my mind is drawn to fond memories of our class supporting one another; packed student sections in the gym and standing ovations in the auditorium. Through all the stress and all the pressure and all the frustration that comes with being a high school student, there wasn't a moment when our dedication to each other faltered. And that's what makes this class so undeniably special.

And now, after countless hours of hard work, dozens of sleepless nights, and too many days that seemed to never end, let's take a minute to breathe. Before jumping into the future, we need to appreciate the present. Be proud. Be joyful. And be excited for what you have achieved. It's extremely important that we recognize this huge accomplishment for ourselves. We'll forget the failed tests and crushing overtime defeats, but we won't forget the lessons we have learned throughout our journey; compassion goes a long way, hard work will always triumph, and unity will move mountains. High school has molded us into the strong, intelligent, and courageous individuals we have become, and it now our time to shine our light on the rest of the world.

Alas, GHS Class of 2024, my message to you: Do what makes you happy, with the people that make you happy, in the place that makes you happy. Whatever your future endeavors consist of, make them count. Embrace life's challenges and face adversity head on. Minimize the time you spend comparing your success to that of others and be sure to celebrate even the smallest of victories. Love yourself and those around you, and above all, be kind.

Thank you for the opportunity you all have given me to be your class president.

Dear Class of 2025,

With high school wrapping up, I find myself grappling with an array of emotions. On one hand, I'm excited for what's to come and to start a new chapter in my life; on the other hand, it's sad to have my time here with all of you become a part of the past. Depending on your experience, and where you may find yourself going in the following years, you may align with how I'm feeling or you may not. Regardless we all have one thing in common: our time spent at Gorham High School has come to an end.

Over the past four years, it's been incredible to witness everyone grow, not only as individuals but as a community. I know our senior year didn't start off the way we had hoped, but we didn't let that stop us from making the most of our last year here. That in itself is a testament to our resilience and character as a class.  I'm really proud of the success our class has achieved at this school. Whether it was athletics, arts, academics, or even showing up when it was hard for you to do so, we all have something to look back on and proudly remember. Because of this, I have no doubts that once you step off that stage with your diploma, you'll be ready for whatever may come your way.

As we prepare to embark on new adventures, whether it be college, careers, or other pursuits, utilize the lessons you learned inside and outside of the classroom and try to maintain the meaningful connections of friendships you may have formed. The future is full of the unknown, and that may be scary, but the future is also full of possibilities and that's exciting. Your time here at Gorham High School will always be a piece of you, so take the best parts and use them in your next chapter.

Finally, I wanted to thank you. Thank you for the memories that I'll remember forever, for the mess that was the dirt parking lot, for the amazing cafeteria cookies we only had freshman year, and even for the soccer games where I inhaled a deadly amount of baby powder. Thank you to the people who helped us at our worst and celebrated us at our best. The support from teachers, families, and friends has been something so incredibly special words cannot begin to dignify it. 

Serving as your class president has truly been something to remember, and an incredible honor. To the Class of 2025 - it's been a pleasure to take on high school with you.

Wishing you luck wherever you're off to.

Dear Class of 2026,

In my first class as a freshman, I was greeted with a number written on the whiteboard. 700. This number seemed extravagant and hopelessly long; yet, it was meant to sum up the number of days in our high school careers. Today, this number seems unfairly short. It is now, at the end of our GHS lives, that I can fully acknowledge how inadequately that number represented our next four years. It forgot to tell of the neon face paint that we would cake on our faces at sports games, only to leave them later stained. Discounted, our fears of being the next fender bender in the GHS parking lot. Disregarded, our treks through the snow, wind, rain, and ice just to reach our classes in the portables. Looked past the fight of our lives to make it onto the library pass. Most importantly, however, it overlooked the growth into the people that we have become.

As our present turns to our past, we can take one last breath before our futures. It is time for us to be thankful for the people who have surrounded us. Appreciative towards the staff who have sanctioned our flourish. Grateful for all the opportunities we have been given. Whether your future entails college, technical school, careers, or other pursuits, walk into it with confidence. Confidence in the connections you will make, the challenges you will overcome, and the life you will come to create.

Finally, above all else, I want to say thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be your class president and letting me realize that our lives at GHS were so much more than the number of days we spent there. I am proud that my life will always stem back here: to Gorham High School. 

A thank you to all previous officers:

• Brodie Berlinger (senior treasurer)

• Eli Castles (freshman vice president; junior treasurer)

• Logan Chhoeung (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior secretary)

• Laurel Emerson (sophomore president)

• Max Duplisea (freshman president)

• Tessa McNally (sophomore treasurer, junior treasurer, senior vice president)

All my luck to wherever you end up.