Carl M. Mackey warned fellow graduates against thinking of their
“glory days” of high school as boring, because they have made
everlasting memories and friendships.

Mackey was the valedictorian of the graduating class of 2007,
and gave the class address during commencement ceremonies Thursday
night in the Bradford Area High School auditorium.

“A lot of thoughts are running through my head. Joy because it
is finally done, sadness because it is the last time I will see
some of you, and fear because of what is ahead,” said Mackey.

Then, he said he had a song in his head: “Glory Days” by Bruce
Springsteen.

“Springsteen says time slips away and leaves you with nothing
but boring stories … I urge you not to do that,” said Mackey. “This
signifies all we have done (until now).”

Dr. Nancy Collop, a 1976 graduate of Bradford High, was the
guest speaker.

She talked of how the invitation to speak at the ceremony took
her back to her high school days and told the students they would
likely only remember the good things and not the bad.

But her advice on life for the students was to try to be a
better person.

“Life offers many choices … try to be better person,” said
Collop.

She gave an example in a story where a Vietnam veteran, who had
been shot down in a firefight, was captured and later released. The
story continued that the man eventually ran into another who seemed
to know him. The Vietnam veteran asked how the other knew him and
he said he was the one that had packed his parachute.

She said that was a prime example of why people should respect
others – you never know. Collop said no matter the job of others,
it could have some importance that will come in handy.

“You should try to respect and understand who you come in
contact with,” said Collop. “We must respect each other. This is
how we work to make the world a better place.”

She also cautioned students to be good workers, even if what
they strive to have doesn’t come to them right away.

Collop told the class that even with her list of achievements,
including being the medical director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Sleep Disorders Laboratory, she had to keep working until it all
fell into place.

“Don’t call in sick if you’re not. Don’t cut corners when your
boss isn’t around,” she warned. “I did it by working hard.”

Collop then recited from Dr. Seuss, “Oh the Places You’ll
Go.”

It begins, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your
shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on
your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll
decide where to go …

“Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed!”

Salutatorian Daniel J. Vecellio reminded the students that
graduation night isn’t just for them.

“This night is for everyone who has helped us out along the way,
not just family, but family friends and coaches and teachers,” he
said. “This night is for those people, too.”

About the past and future, Vecellio said, “We are all
individuals but we came to each other. Only we have the power to
choose what happens to us. We welcome the last chance to be
together as a class. Take time to remember.”

Showing their ability to be together one last time, the
graduating class, during the senior chorus’ selection of “Lean on
Me,” stood proudly together swaying back and forth arm in arm or
clapping, dancing and singing as one.

This brought many of the faculty to their feet as well.

Meanwhile, Tim Keane, third ranked student, in his farewell
speech, reminded classmates to thank their teachers and
parents.

And in the future, “Remember your town, teachers, classmates and
friends.”