In a school year fraught with a multitude of challenges, the 125-member Farmersville High School Class of 2021 walked across the stage on a thankful note Monday, June 14, at the Allen Event Center.

Graduating senior Debanhi Bosquez led the Pledge of Al­legiance after her classmates entered to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” then gave opening remarks once the na­tional anthem concluded.

Salutatorian Kylie Self kicked off her time at the po­dium by first thanking all her teachers and coaches for their guidance and encouragement. She then thanked her three closest friends for “helping me learn a balance between schoolwork and having fun,” and thanked her two sisters and her parents. In her speech, Kylie reflected on her 13-year educational career, which start­ed at Tatum Elementary and ended at Farmersville High School, and said she “thought about the good, the bad, and everything in between” and she wanted to share three things she learned in her time as a student. She recited a quote, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending,” from writer and theo­logian C.S. Lewis.

For the full story, see the June 17 issue or subscribe online.

By Sonia Duggan • [email protected]