United as Mustangs, Lakewood Ranch High School graduates finally get to celebrate

Like a sword forged under great heat and heavy blows, the graduates of Lakewood Ranch High School overcame adversity and arose stronger than ever.

“Throughout life, we have been put into fires and, for some of us, life has hammered us. I know COVID-19 certainly did. Yet here we are, swords ready for battle,” said Lila Casal, a speaker at Wednesday’s graduation ceremony.

Standing near the pitcher’s mound at LECOM Park, she addressed a crowd of mask-wearing men and women in the stands. Many in the Class of 2020 were born into a world transformed by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when the nation was still grieving, Casal said.

They were again faced with tragedy over the last several months. Graduates of Lakewood Ranch High would soon tackle a world filled with uncertainty and grief, as COVID-19 cases rise throughout the nation. But they would prevail, Casal said.

“Our lives are not defined by tragedy,” she continued. “Our lives are defined by our fight. This fight has made us stronger, has made us better and will carry us to success.”

High school graduations were scheduled for mid-May at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, before COVID-19 forced a delay. The district later moved the venue to LECOM Park, allowing for an outdoor ceremony with social distancing among families.

Casal said Wednesday was more than a celebration for the graduates of Lakewood Ranch High School. It was a moment for the hard-working families and school employees who invested in the students.

“Most of us did not think this day would actually come,” Casal said. “But it did, 77 days later than expected.”

In her own commencement speech, Lily Potter encouraged the graduates to remove “impossible” from their vocabulary. Success means something different to everyone, and she asked the Class of 2020 to strive for success, whatever that may be.

The graduates, she said, could effect positive change in their communities by working hard and ignoring the naysayers.

“Instead of listening to them, I level my head, stare directly back into their eyes and say, ‘Watch me.’ Determination and hard work shows your dedication and desire to the people around you,” Potter continued.

Christina Williams, a 2020 graduate and commencement speaker, said COVID-19 derailed the students’ plans last March.

“We were going on spring break, applying to colleges and making plans for what comes next, but in the journey of life, there are plenty of curveballs,” she said.

The last four years of high school were a learning experience, one that extended beyond classrooms or textbooks.

WIlliams said she learned to surround herself with supportive people, to focus on her health and to follow her dreams in spite of her insecurities. Williams also learned to count her blessings. On Wednesday, she was blessed with a crowd of friends, educators, families and fellow graduates.

They came from different regions and life experiences, but for the last four years, they were all Mustangs at Lakewood Ranch High School.

The Class of 2020 shared in all the trials and triumphs of early adulthood, and despite their unique backgrounds, they were united at Wednesday’s graduation.

In her commencement speech, Morgan Kirchman urged the graduates to cherish their shared experiences.

“As different as you may perceive yourself to be from the person standing next to you, I encourage you to look at what united us as the Class of 2020, for both the good and the bad,” she said.

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 1:32 PM.