CLEVELAND – As her classmates prepare for a journey in uncertain times, Ariana Reynolds thought it might help if they understood that tough times are nothing to be afraid of.

During her speech to the Marion L. Steele High School class of 2009 graduates, Reynolds drew on her own experiences making sacrifices to do what she thought best for her own journey. Faced with a decision to attend Lorain County JVS for a career in hair design – her passion – or staying at Steele with her friends and a environment familiar to her, she chose the former, and hasn’t once regretted it.

“Dealing with sacrifice and change is necessary for success,” she told them from inside Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.

Change is inevitable, she continued, explaining that “in our time, the economy went from booming to bust, Hummers to hybrids” and people being wasteful to being green.

For a class who was in fifth grade during the attacks on 9/11, change is par for the course, explained valedictorian Samantha Wadge, but after having developed wonderful relationships with classmates and teachers at Steele, support during tough times will always be nearby.

“From now on you will change and grow but you’ll always take a piece of these others with you,” she said.

Wadge also offered a bit of advice, from a former music teacher, that keeps her going when she needs a boost.

“It will all work out in the end, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not the end,” she said.

Contact Adam Wright at 329-7129 or awright@chroniclet.com.

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