Bucks County Technical High School Grads Are True ‘Grit’

It’s not a typical high school – and it wasn’t a typical high school graduation. The 362 graduates from Bucks County Technical High School walked proudly into the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton for their ceremony, proof that they finished their journey through high school as well as certificate training to enter the work force.

Family and friends packed the seats of the arena, cheering on their loved ones as they entered.

“Follow your efforts,” Dr. Leon Poeske told the seniors in his welcome. “Where do you spend most of your time and energy? That effort will lead to your true passion.”

Valedictorian A. Maxwell Hodges spoke of “determination” telling his classmates “Don’t stop believing.” While salutatorian Samantha McCarty talked about the self-discipline each of them developed as a BCTHS student.

But it was Senior Class President Emmanuel Jones who lit up the class of “grit” with his remarks. “We are Grit. The Class of 2017 is Grit.” With three years’ experience as class president, all eyes were on Jones. “Success doesn’t come to you, you run to it!”

Getting these seniors ready for the real world, however, is what Tech is all about. Class Advisor James Sohenuick had good news and bad news for the graduates. “The good news,” he started, “is you no longer have to ask permission to go to the bathroom… but the bad news is you will all fail.”

While most other graduating classes might consider this a bad message, Sohenuick’s atypical message was still motivational. He reminded the seniors that everyone hits hard times in their life, but it is learning “the lessons of failure” and moving on which make one successful in life.