By MADELYN ALTON
CCA Class of 2026 Salutatorian
Members of the board, faculty, parents, friends and the Class of 2026.
We often look at resilience as pushing through our struggles, never giving up.
While this is true, I think that these last four years have taught me that resilience is much more than persevering on your own.
These last four years have not been easy.
We pushed through late-night stress over assignments that we definitely should have started earlier, constant studying for tests and quizzes, and days we just did not feel like doing work. Somehow we also made it through group projects, senioritis and Mrs. Poore’s chemistry class.
Despite all of this, here we are.
However, it was not due to our own strength.
1 Peter 4:11 says, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
This verse shows us that true strength comes from God.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can see when there were times that our own strength was not enough. Times that we felt overwhelmed, discouraged, stressed, uncertain or exhausted. But, God kept providing what we needed every step of the way. I think one of the biggest ways that he did that was through each other.
This class became more than classmates. You became family. We carried each other through hard seasons, played sports together, encouraged each other, laughed until we cried, and somehow turned even the smallest things into inside jokes.
I know that I would not have made it through these four years if it weren’t for the people that God placed in my life by going to this school.
So maybe the secret to resilience isn’t becoming someone who never struggles. Maybe it’s realizing that you were never meant to carry your struggles alone.
We are strongest when we rely on the strength God provides because his strength will never run out.
Class of 2026, thank you for being part of my strength these last four years. I truly believe God has incredible things ahead for each and every one of you.
And as we leave this chapter behind … All I can really say is, “What a Year.”
Congratulations, Class of 2026.
