"I have a son to take care of," she said.
For Winters, 18, last night's graduation ceremony was only part of what promises to be a momentous week. On Saturday, she will marry the father of her infant son, Skylar. A Glen Rock resident and student in the Southern York County School District since kindergarten, Winters gave birth to the boy last June, and she has been working through her senior year as both mother and student.
"It was difficult," she said, "but when you have family behind you that support your decisions" the workload is easier to manage.
Winters, who plans to go to the York Technical Institute to become a medical assistant and later a registered nurse, was one of 241 Susquehannock students to earn diplomas last night. It took the high school's band more than four full refrains of an Elgar "Pomp and Circumstance" march to seat all of the students.
The ceremony, which was held under a crystalline, room-temperature sunset, took just over two hours and finished with a lengthy, earsplitting fireworks display.
Speakers: But it began with a speech from valedictorian David Miles, who lamented
that so much effort must end with the red polyester graduation gowns.
Even so, "we must honor the traditions of generations before us," he told his classmates.
Miles' speech was punctuated with well-received
He concluded by reminding graduates of the difficulties and stark realities of the world they enter.
"We live in a world of corruption, fraud and infidelity," one rife with "proud doctors, proud lawyers and corrupt politicians," he said. "The world is out there, and it's yours for the taking."
Salutatorian Jonathan Harris promised to dispense with platitudes, opting instead to "briefly share with (graduates) a story and then sit down."
Harris told the class about three fictional high-school graduates: "Jen," the ambitious, high-powered lawyer who sacrificed friends and family for fame and fortune; "Justin," the promising young mind who squandered his potential by committing himself to a life of "cutting grass and smoking it"; and "Kayla," who earned a respectable GPA at a community college and became a librarian, following her love of books.
Harris sided with Kayla, who did what made her happy and had few regrets. He urged graduates to chase their dreams but to avoid choosing a "dream (they) would live to regret."
Final words: The district recruited Randy Edsall, a Glen Rock native who graduated from Susquehannock in 1976 and is now the head football coach at the University of Connecticut, to deliver the alumni address.
"I'm not going to speak long because I know you all have parties to go to," he began. Cheers rang out.
"From today on, you're going to have a lot of opportunities waiting for you. Pursue the opportunity that makes you the most happy," Edsall said.
After presenting the diplomas, Susquehannock principal Brian Cashman posed a blunt but succinct ultimatum to the graduates.
"Have a great life," he said. "Or not. The choice is yours."
-- Reach Peter Mergenthaler at 854-1575 or news@yorkdispatch.com.
Susquehannock High School Class of 2006:
241 Graduates
Valedictorian: David Miles
Salutatorian: Jonathan Harris
Alumni Speaker: Randy Edsall, Class of 1976
Held at the Susquehannock's Robert Lau Memorial Field
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