Graduations 2004: Olympic

Donned in blue robes and mortarboards, Olympic High School’s Class of 2004 was urged to reach their dreams and be true to themselves.

“I’m so excited,” said Un Oh minutes before the 348 students lined up for their big entrance into the Pavilion Friday night. She plans to attend Western Washington University to study pharmacology.

RJ Bledsoe, who was later honored as an outstanding senior, welcomed his peers.

“Learn how to be selfish ... be who you are and what you want to be,” he said. He asked the graduates to ask themselves at the end of the day if they are happy. That doesn’t mean running out and maxing out credit cards or reneging on responsibilities. Instead, it means to not be afraid to forge a path.

“It’s your life and no one else’s,” Bledsoe said.

He plans to attend the University of Southern California where he hopes to major in business administration.

The class also heard from its two valedictorians who just so happen to be best friends. Sara Goetz and Katie Sweet tied for the first-place honor while Bledsoe and Arla Shepard tied for salutatorian.

Throughout her childhood Goetz’s parents would leave the newspaper page listing the valedictorian and the top graduates in her room.

“I always thought ‘Wow that would be crazy,’” and she would have her picture in the paper.

Friday Goetz spoke to her peers family and friends about the future.

“There’s so much more out there. We’ve barely started our lives and now all we have to do is go out and live them,” Goetz said.

Sweet addressed the importance of setting goals to reach the wildest of dreams.

“Each dream is as different as the individual person. The true beauty of these dreams is the value they hold. To the person they are priceless,” Sweet said.

But with these dreams there must be a plan to get there and a willingness for sacrifice.

Principal Bob Barnes presented citizenship awards to Jeff Shaw and Stephanie Miller.

“They are great citizens of our school, district and our community,” Barnes said.

He also presented the senior of the year award to Bledsoe. That award is based on the student’s qualities such as respect, cooperation and focus on learning.

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