150 years in the making: Middleboro graduates walk the stage

In 1875, Middleboro High School graduated its first class — 150 years later, the Class of 2025 followed in their footsteps.

Superintendent Carolyn Lyons gave the 202 graduates and their assembled friends and family members a brief history lesson on Saturday, June 7. She described a small school building that housed only 800 students, when bread cost 5 cents and a home averaged $1,000.

“I share this with you today not to share a history lesson, but to remind you that you are part of a long and storied history in our community, one that includes change, innovation and improvements,” Lyons said. “You and the place you hold as the Class of 2025 are the promise of tomorrow.”

Due to inclement weather, the graduation ceremony was moved inside to the gym on Saturday evening. The room was packed, with guests and graduates filling most of the available space as the Class of 2025 walked the stage to receive their diplomas.

Principal Paul Branagan recalled the beginning of the class’s high school experience — a return from virtual learning and the Covid pandemic.

“I feel the need to apologize to each of you for how your journey began at Middleboro High School,” Branagan said. “Your freshman year became a year of growth for all of us. Both of us had to find our footing again — you struggled, we struggled. When I look back at that year, I realize we were all transitioning.”

Branagan said he “should have known” how to engage with students who had missed half of seventh grade and all of eighth grade, along with the associated educational and social setbacks.

“The foundations needed for high school were missing. However, over the last four years I have seen one of the most profound transformations in my life,” he said with emotion. “You learned to engage, to connect, to socialize and learn to love your school. I saw this class grow stronger and stronger.”

Valedictorian Carolyn Dietzch addressed the fears of the class, including her own about public speaking.

“Although we don’t know what we’re going to do after this, we don’t have to be scared because we get to decide,” she said. “We can use our time to do whatever we want — go on that trip you always wanted to, apply for your dream job, study whatever you’re passionate about and never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do — unless they are a police officer or a judge,” she added with a laugh.

Student Melina Freitas summed up the remarks of the evening with some wisdom from her mother.

“Stop wishing today away. Today is part of your journey, and there will come a time when you look back upon it and miss it,” she said. “We often come up with excuses for not trying new things or meeting new people, saying it's due to embarrassment or lack of time, but I know that our screen time is filled with endless hours scrolling through TikTok and Instagram. We need to seize the days we have.”