FBCS grads head out into the world

SANDPOINT — They are unique, fun, and loving.

"These beautiful people have hearts of gold, developed a resiliency that we may not have had growing up as older adults, and developed the ability to change in a moment's notice," Forrest Bird Charter High School administrator Mary Jensen said, introducing the just over two dozen graduates at commencement exercises at the Panida Theater on Friday. "They have great potential to make the world a better place."

Before introducing the guest speaker, government teacher Mark Webber, Jensen first addressed the FBCS graduates.

"Sitting in front of me is an incredible group of young adults," Jensen said.

Webber, who arrived a few minutes late to the ceremony, apologized to the hundreds gathered, explaining he'd been wrapping up testing for two licensed amateur radio technicians.

He then had the graduates stand up and face the crowd, telling them that those gathered are everyone who has loved and supported them over the years. 

"As you look at your families — your mom, your dad, or your grandparents — I want you to see in their faces the wonders of all those years," Webber said. "When they taught you to ride a bike or took you to the family campouts or vacations, and also remember them holding you when you were at your weakest moments while being sick or through that horrible breakup."

After introducing the crowd to his parents, pointing out that like the graduates, he wouldn't be where he is in life without them, Webber told them to turn and face their teachers. He told them to give a shout-out to them as well, for being a crucial part of their education over the years.

He then told the several dozen students to turn and face him for some "long overdue" comments of his own. His first shoutout was to Daniel Landry to come to the stage so he could pay off a bet. Before Christmas break, he made a prediction that if Kamala Harris took office after two years as vice president, she could theoretically serve a total of 10 years if also elected to the position.

"I said this was a strong possibility, and Daniel Landry wanted to know if I would make a bet, and I said, 'Sure for a coffee.' As you all know, I lost that bet," Webber told the crowd as he handed Landry the can of iced coffee.

(Landry would later chug a good portion of the coffee after being presented his diploma, much to the laughter of his classmates and those gathered to celebrate.)

As the grad made his way back to his seat, Webber told his classmates and the crowd that the class of 2023 was the toughest he'd ever taught in his 22 years as a teacher.

"I was told by one of you to be brutally honest, so here it comes," Webber said. "You were the toughest class I ever taught because of what we all went through these past four years."

From being told their school was nonessential to schools modeled after prisons, the challenges didn't deter them as they persevered in search of their diplomas.

From students who called him the "toughest teacher in school" to another who stepped in when car trouble or snow made him a few minutes late.

They were the toughest because they celebrated a beloved teacher, John Stevens, choosing to honor him in a special way after he passed away unexpectedly.

He cited their quest for knowledge, their passion for singing or creating YouTube content, choosing to help others through their future careers.

"There's the truth of it — you are my toughest class in 22 years of teaching. And since you are so tough, imagine what awaits you after this because the world is a hard place and it takes tough people to navigate it," he said to introduce his comments to each of the students.

He told them to be determined in whatever they do, noting that for their generation money is no longer the answer to success.

"I know in this room we are the richest people because of our sense of community, our strength in spirit, and our joy for life," he added. "Class of 2023, this world's a changing and you are needed to help guide it in the direction of beauty, love for humanity and ultimately, peace."

Also speaking were fellow graduates Shalayna Sundgren, who performed a poem she'd written, and Maggie Russell, chosen by her classmates as their student speaker.

Without her family's support — and that of her classmates once she opened herself up to them — Russell said she would not be the person she was today, or achieve the things she had.

"My dad told me a story about a little sailboat who lived in the harbor with her family, and she was too scared to leave and sail on the big lake," Russell told the crowd. "One day, her dad got stuck in a storm, and it was up to her to save him."

Although she was terrified, the young sailboat headed out onto the lake, and while she wanted to turn back many times, she summoned the courage to continue on and bring her dad to safety.

"She realized she had always been strong enough and decided she didn't want to stay safe in the harbor forever. She wanted to be free," Russell said.

Like the young sailboat, she longed to adventure out into the world. It was through the guidance of her family — and the support and friendship of her classmates — that Russell said she was finally able to leave the safety of the harbor and become the person she is meant to be.

In talking with classmates later, Russell said she learned that they, too, had the same doubts and worries. That they, too, often felt out of place.

"The thing is, like the sailboat my dad used to tell me about, we're all capable of doing great things, we have the ability to head out onto the lake even though it can be terrifying sometimes. It's what we need to do."

While it's OK to head back to harbor when needed, Russell encouraged her fellow graduates to explore the big lake.

"There will probably be times you want to turn around … and it's OK to go back to the harbor if you need to, just make sure you don't stay there forever," Russell told them. "Because while it may be the safest place to be, it's not what sailboats are meant for."