By MICHAEL MURPHY, Senior Class President
Good evening, families, teachers, administration and, most of all, the Class of 2025! I’d like to take this moment to express my gratitude on behalf of the class toward everyone that has gotten us to this point. From elementary school teachers to high school principals, and most importantly our parents and loved ones, it would not have been possible without each and every one of you, especially my husband Chloe. And to the class, we did it. Let’s give ourselves a round of applause. What a ride it has been. We came in here as wide-eyed kids who thought there was a pool on the roof, and having assemblies every week for behavioral reasons. Or when the “devious lick trend” happened and there were no paper towel machines in any of the bathrooms. Now look at us, going off to college, the trades, the military and some just doing “a gap year” in our mom’s basement.
If you ever wondered what greatness looks like, just glance around. In our class, we have four Division 1 athletes who’ve trained like champions, four Ivy League-bound scholars who’ve put in the late nights and deep focus we all aspire to have. Musicians who can light up any stage they step on, and a photographer who didn’t just capture our memories — but made them art. This isn’t just a graduating class — it’s a legacy in the making. And just as unforgettable are the thinkers, dreamers, friends and glue guys — each leaving a mark no résumé can capture. As we move forward, we remember that hard work pays off, perseverance matters and the little things mean the most.
Nothing taught me the lesson on hard work more than junior year AP U.S. History. That class pushed me harder than anything before — from spending eight hours on chapter packets to watching every Adam Norris video for extra credit, it was a constant challenge. The night before the exam is something I’ll never forget. After a quick meal, I sat down for hours of review, doing everything I could to pull together knowledge from the entire year. It wasn’t easy, but in the end, all that effort brought me closer to my goals. That experience showed me that when you truly commit and push through the struggle, the results are worth it.
Perseverance is also one of the most important lessons we can take with us — in school, in life, and in work. If you give up when things get tough, you won’t get anywhere and you could miss out on incredible opportunities like a championship. As an athlete, I’ve always appreciated a great sports story, and we were lucky enough to witness one ourselves right here at LHS. I’m talking about the boys’ soccer team and that unforgettable state championship in the fall of ’23. It was a freezing November night at Scituate High School. I was cold, bored and halfway through a hot chocolate when suddenly the crowd erupted. Dillon Reilly had broken through the defense, sprinted down the field and launched the ball into the back of the net. The stands exploded as he ran to celebrate with the student section. When the final whistle blew and the clock hit zeros, we all stormed the field in celebration — Lynnfield boys’ soccer were state champions. That moment was electric, and it reminded all of us that the best things in life come when you refuse to give up.
And if there’s one piece of advice I hope I can give to all of you, it’s live in the moment. Throughout high school, we were so focused on what was next — getting into the best colleges, chasing goals, planning for the future — that we sometimes forgot to enjoy how incredible the present was. To quote my dad’s favorite movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” We let some of the best years of our lives pass us by without fully appreciating them. But when we look back, it’s the little things that stand out: Laughing during the hypnotist show at prom, the energy at the senior pep rally, field days, hunting me down first period to buy a bagel, the holiday concerts, eating muffins with spoons for some reason and sneaking out through the bio wing door to get lunch at MarketStreet. These were the moments that made high school special. Now we’re heading into another amazing chapter, and if there’s one thing we should do differently, it’s this: Take time to enjoy it. College is about trying new things and finding out who we are — so every now and then, pause, breathe, and soak it all in.
As we stand on the edge of this new chapter, ready to take our next steps into the unknown, let’s not forget where we came from. The laughter, the lessons, the late nights and the little moments — they’ve all shaped who we are today. We’ve worked hard, we’ve pushed through challenges, and we’ve learned to appreciate the ride. Whether you’re heading off to college, into the workforce, the military or just figuring things out in your mom’s basement, know that this isn’t the end — it’s just the beginning. So here’s to the Class of 2025: May we chase our goals with determination, face adversity with strength, and most importantly, never forget to stop and enjoy the moment.
Congratulations, everyone — we made it.