CHS 2013 Valedictory Address: Hayley Kolding

When I first moved here, a child of busy West Hartford, I was afraid that I’d be lonely surrounded by fields and trees instead of neighbors and block parties. Now, twelve years later, I want to say thank you to all of you for showing me that in Canton, I am never alone.

All you Cantonites—especially our class of 2013—have become like family to me. The other day, I found that sitting with my class as members of the Canton churches served us pancakes and fresh fruit felt as natural as eating breakfast with my parents at my own kitchen table. Watching my classmates passing pitchers of syrup, laughing over their orange juice, and snagging strawberries off each other’s plates was like watching siblings out to eat together.

Some of you, I’m sure, have had that family feeling since you played in the sandbox together at Sunny Days. For me, Nature’s Classroom was the first time I viewed our class as my sisters and brothers. I remember sharing cabins together, lining up to brush our teeth at night, then gathering around a single set of bunk beds for ghost stories and truth or dare. I felt the same closeness in DC in eighth grade, when, after surviving a five-hour bus ride together, we still managed to have a great time. We were excited by everything from tours and museums to the glass hotel elevator and the Ben Stiller sighting. On that trip, we took enough pictures of our class clambering over monuments to fill a whole family album.

We have less pictures of our rainy trip to Boston in seventh grade. I don’t mind at all, considering that the only wonder of the ocean we saw on that whale watch was how fast Canton kids on a boat turn green. But I do still remember that trip as an event that really brought our class together. Gagging and retching above- and below-decks, we saw each other at our worst. Then we got back to land loving each other anyway.

And how could we not love each other? Yes, we’ve seen each other at our worst, but we’ve also seen each other at our best. We’re a good group of people, and we’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve survived a lot: the switch from first to third lunch, crazy junior year schedules, even crazier sports team workouts…keeping our quarters in line in the chem room…even the Great Bunsen Burner Conflagration of 2012. Don’t forget that we also made it past what the Mayans called the end of the world.

No, scratch that, we didn’t just “make it”—that sounds like we just slid by. We didn’t slide by. In our time here, we did some great things. We created works of art ranging from sketches and pottery to writing and metalwork. We sent students to China, France, and Spain and brought a little bit more of the world back to the valley. We made music. Performances like Prisms, the choral concerts, and the musicals were unforgettable. So were the many games, matches, and races where our class showed just how hard Warriors work—and how much we can accomplish.

Of course, none of this would have happened if not for the rest of our family—both our parents and loved ones at home, and our teachers and staff members here at school. I only wish I had enough words to capture how truly lucky we have been to experience the wisdom, patience, and leadership of the adults of Canton High School. I’m speaking for all of our class when I say that we’re especially grateful to be completing our time here alongside two of the most remarkable men we know: Mr. Messier, who has inspired us with his sense of wonder for nature, and Mr. Gula, who honors us with just as much patience, life lessons, and love as the best of fathers would give his children. He has guided us through four years of high school with kindness and strength, and we wish him the best of luck in his retirement.

So thank you, Mr. Gula. Thank you, teachers and staff, families and loved ones! Thank you, Class of 2013! And really, thank you, Canton. You make up the roots that we always promise to remember—and we are lucky for it.