Amherst Marion L. Steele Comets celebrate end of a journey 'unforgettable in the most beautiful way'

CLEVELAND — Amherst Marion L. Steele High School's 135th graduating class could not have a brighter future, Valedictorian Ashley London told her fellow Comets on Saturday afternoon. Gathered at the Wolstein Center, the Class of 2023 recognized the work it had put in to walk across the stage: from working through a pandemic to making the most of their senior year. "Rather than succumbing to these circumstances, we chose to move forward and make the best of it," London said. It's been four years of football games, concerts, musicals, class trips, and countless memories. While things may not have gone as planned — as the class was sent home in the latter half of freshman year during the COVID-19 shutdown, and didn't return in-full until their junior year it was "unforgettable in the most beautiful way," she said. Lorain County Joint Vocational School student Keyshia Maysonet said the gains and losses the class of 2023 experienced makes them who they are. Maysonet studied cosmetology at the JVS to give others confidence in themselves, she said. She implored her fellow graduates to help uplift others where they can and leave the world better than they found it. Class President Evan Draga said he was trying to find a treasured memory from the past 12 years with his classmates — but found he couldn't speak for all of them. It could be the ups and downs of watching the Comets football team or attending volleyball games, theater productions, a middle school trip to Mohican State Park or the countless daily interactions with a classmate or teacher. "What is valuable is the support we've given to one another over the past 12 years," he said. Superintendent Mike Molnar shared a story he remembered from his own senior year of high school. At the time, he was required to bring in a current events newspaper clipping and chose one about Biosphere 2, a research facility in Arizona built as an enclosed ecosystem. He said the scientists in the sphere's early days faced an unexpected challenge: the trees fell over. Looking at the root system and bark of the trees, it was found a lack of stress from the wind was the cause — while wind can be destructive, it is also a source of strength, he said. "Today, as you prepare to face the world outside the academic walls of high school, you will face the inevitable wind of life," he said. Those stressors are what will help each graduate grow and mature, finding their strength, he said. While some students collected tardy slips on their way to the finish line, High School Principal Joe Tellier said no matter how — or when — they came through the doors of Marion L. Steele each morning, it was the best part of his day. "Regardless of how you entered school every morning, this class of 2023 is full of geniuses, artists, musicians, athletes, theatrical extraordinaires, inventors and creators that will continue to blossom," he said. "Every doorway you walked through prepared you for this next chapter of your life." He left the soon-to-be alumni with parting wisdom: It's not what you do, but how you do it; treat others the way you would want to be treated; and enjoy the little things in life. Whether the class of 2023 is walking through doors at military bases, college campuses or their new career, they will be ready for whatever is thrown their way, he said. "And remember: 'Once a Comet, always a Comet,' he said. "The doors of Steele will always be open for you." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.