Hello and good afternoon.

My name is Nathan Chatterton and I am the Class of 2021’s salutatorian. I first want to say congratulations to the graduates who are my fellow classmates, and my friends. Thank you to all the families who traveled here to witness this special day. I hope I can provide everyone with a little more wisdom than you came here with.

Three years ago I came to Boothbay Region High school not knowing a lot. I didn’t know many people. I didn’t know many teachers, and most importantly, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life and who I wanted to be. At the time, inspiration was hard to find. I was simply going through the motions of schoolwork and trying to get good grades, and thought that maybe, one day, it would all just click and my future would be set on track. I grew frustrated that since nothing was coming to me, I thought maybe it never would. Maybe I just didn’t deserve it.

It took me too long to realize that in order to find what I want to do, and especially who I want to be, I can’t just sit around and wait for something to happen. This is when I started my search. Through this search I found my dream career and new passions that I want to pursue when I wake up each day. I was having a hard time finding my inspiration in this world, because my inspiration was actually out of this world, in outer space. But there was still the question of who I wanted to be. This was the single most difficult question. I solved it by looking up to my teachers and friends, and tried to observe what I found inspiring in them. Their actions, their teachings, their wisdom. In fact, most of who I am today today was molded in some way by the people around me.

Ms. Hersom inspired me with her kindness and sympathy, Ms. Graham inspired me to be intellectually curious, Mr. Scott inspired me to be persistent and hard-working, Mr. Gorey inspired me to be a rational and informed citizen, and Mr. Powell taught me that no matter what, we are always, somehow, one week behind the AP exam schedule.

Post-realization, I now try to act as a beacon of inspiration like they were to me, in the hopes that someone like the earlier version of myself can find their own path with my light. Graduates and all who are gathered here today, I encourage you to actively search for your inspiration. You will find it. It may take weeks, months, or years, but when you do you will be glad you started today. To my class, the class of 2021, as our classmates walk across the stage in a few minutes, try to think of how they might be or have been a beacon of inspiration to you. You may not find it today, but this is just the beginning. You may not know exactly what you’re looking for, but that’s just part of the fun. Today might be your beginning, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this day with all of you.

Thank you.