“If there is anything you want to do, don’t hold back because you think you can’t, or you’re worried what people will think. Do it!” said Taylor Johnson.

“Don’t put things off and get lots of sleep,” Wyatt Kersten and Jayden Whanger said.

“Push through, have fun, cherish the time you have, and ‘just do you,'” said Anne Schauer.

The students work on their family farms and ranches as well as having jobs and extracurricular activities, such as FFA, FBLA, 4-H, school choir, sports, drama and church. These high school grads just finished reading the books,“The Hobbit,” “Back Yard Jungle,” “The Precipice” and “All Things Bright.”

Jen Brodal/MDN From left to right are Berthold High School graduates Olivia Lebrun, Kennedy Limke and Anne Schauer.

Max seniors Kersten, Johnson, Ben Scheresky and Whanger discussed the hardships of high school during a pandemic and all felt that none have been unaffected. Along with the difficulties of online learning, general negativity and isolation, the commonality among each of them was losing a loved one.

Berthold seniors Olivia Lebrun, Kennedy Limke, and Schauer agree the pandemic has been a time of reflection and left them more open to change and flexibility. They’ve learned to be adaptable and feel and live grateful for family and friends.

Amanda Huettl, FFA adviser, ag teacher and mentor in Max, has influenced Scheresky “in field experience and bringing him out of his shell.” Public speaking and bravery in trying new things are the takeaways for the Max graduates Kersten, Johnson, Scheresky and Whanger.

Johnna Varty, who heads the FFA program in Berthold, is the students’ hero there. Lebrun, Limke and Schauer also credit their families as being their biggest heroes, and they attribute their success, confidence and perseverance to them.

These graduates plan on becoming North Dakota professionals, in fields such as agriculture, farming and ranching, teaching and butchery. While they most notably have come through these historically difficult years as strong and stand-up adolescents, they also have plenty of memories that made their high school experiences in Max and Berthold unforgettable. Most of these seniors plan to return to the close-knit rural communities they are from.

Times and dates of area high school graduations include:

— Berthold, May 29, 1 p.m.

— Burlington/Des Lacs, May 22, 2 p.m.

–Glenburn, May 22, 1 p.m.

–Kenmare, May 29, 2 p.m.

— Max, May 22, 2 p.m.

— Nedrose, May 22, 2 p.m.

— Sawyer, May 22, 3 p.m.

— South Prairie, May 22, 2:30 p.m.

— Surrey, May 29, 1 p.m.