LENOX, Mass. — PHS Class President Terrance Nykorchuck had two speeches prepared for graduation — a funny one and a serious one.

 

Both of them had the same theme: reflection on the class of 2016's time in high school, thanks to those who helped, and looking toward the future.

 

He chose the funny one, jokingly bringing up a boiler explosion, rowdy cheering sections at sports events, a Twitter rivalry with Wahconah, jaywalking at lunch, fooling around in the library, a semi-formal dance at the Itam "and so many other things both appropriate and inappropriate, mostly inappropriate, to talk about on this stage."

 

"I think we will all be proud of our fantastic, amazing, boring, and inappropriately heated wonderful school," Nykorchuck said. 

 

He thanked the teachers — naming a bunch and using his time on the Tanglewood stage to tease some of them. 

 

"Say what you want about the bathrooms at PHS, but we had some amazing teachers," Nykorchuck said. 

 

But with the humor, the president knows that the time has ended and not everything the students endured to get to graduation was happy. Through the four years at Pittsfield High School, the classmates formed a special bond with one another.

 

"We owe each other thanks as well. We laughed together but we also cried together," Nykorchuck said. 

 

Instead of focusing on the sadness that the graduates' time together has come to an end, Nykorchuck said "let's be happy we had it."

 

Nykorchuck spoke to his classmates in the final time the class gathers and each student now will head off into many directions, work, college and military service — those heading to the armed services receiving an round of ovation from the crowd of families, friends, and staff.

 

Over those four years, School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon hopes the students not only found a good book or poem but also guidance and support.

 

"I hope you found someone, a teacher, a counselor, a dean, the principal, secretary, someone along the way who inspired you, who believed in you, who pushed you. I hope you remember them and become that person in someone else's life," Yon said. 

 

Superintendent Jason McCandless told the 204 graduates not to chase after material goods like the best car or the biggest house, but instead chase love. His speech centered on what he called the "better than average effect" in which people strive to be better than their peers.

 

"If you have to chase something in life, don't chase better. Chase love," McCandless said.

 

"Chasing better is an empty chase. It will keep you busy and it will keep you occupied. But it won't keep you satisfied. Don't chase better, class of 2016, chase peace, chase equality, chase justice, chase love. The only person you have to be better than today is the person you were yesterday."

 

He recalled a time recently when a preschool students told him he looked like the president. At first, he thought about the before and after photos in which at the end of a presidential term the president looks "as if he aged 85 years." But, instead the student said it was because he was wearing a nice suit. 

 

That got the superintendent thinking about the presidential candidates saying someone who thinks they are "smart enough, ethical enough, energetic enough" to be president is a "narcissistic fool." He called the one-ups-manship of presidential primary nauseating and repulsive.

 

"I don't really want to vote for anybody who thinks they are smart enough, or energetic enough, or moral enough to lead the free world. I might even think that if you think you are good enough to run for this office, you may be slightly delusional or narcissistic. That's just the opinion of one individual man who put the average in grade-point average," McCandless said.

 

Instead, he wants the students to focus their efforts on things that matter more and helping their fellow man.

 

"In our senseless pursuit to be better, we can start to lose sight of the things that really matter," McCandless said.

 

"Better does not matter. Love matters. Loving yourself matters. Loving your neighbors matters, Loving those who are not your friends, who are not your friends and no your neighbors, that matters. Loving those who do not have your skin color or your nationality, who aren't of your income level, loving them matters."

 

Sunday was a day for the families to celebrate the academic achievements during the school's 85th commencement. Mayor Linda Tyer delivered the message that the city is proud of each student and by the people who helped them reach graduation.

 

"You are surrounded today by people who have been rooting for you," Tyer said.

 

The mayor encouraged the graduates to accept adventures, to trust their instincts, and be focused on the moment.

 

"As you move through the day today and into the warm days of summer, you may begin to feel uncertainty about your future. You can turn that uncertainty into one of two things and this is most definitely your choice. You can either allow the feat to creep into your heart and paralyze your potential or you can embrace uncertainty, look it right in the eyes, and turn it into your very own adventure-filled life with challenges to overcome and triumphs to celebrate," Tyer said. 

 

She cited Bilbo Baggins journey in "The Hobbit" showing how the character grew more confident and wiser through each adventure. And she said she, too, was like that, and she is now more confident to reach out and accept adventures which ultimately "improve your life beyond your wildest imagination."

 

Tyer was then joined by Dean of Students Christina Huff in handing out the diplomas, right before the concert band — which had already performed "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" — played "Pomp and Circumstance" as the graduates left the Koussevitzky Music Shed into a light rain and were greeted by their families.

 

"You've done everything we've asked of you and you've done it with class," Principal Matthew Bishop said, adding that the class embodies the school's principles. 

 

And like Nykorchuck, Bishop infused some humor about the class's actions.

 

"When you come to crossroads in life, use a crosswalk," Bishop said to laughter.