The storms of life will come soon enough.

For this night, though, the high school graduating classes of Quitman and Mineola celebrated with fair weather Friday night as the 2025 classes were able to hold their respective ceremonies outdoors in their football stadiums as friends, family and well-wishers packed the stands for their special night.

Bright blue and orange mortar boards sailed into the night sky to signify the end and the beginning, following one final chance to sing the school song together.

Mineola High School Principal Chase Thomas prasied the 118 “amazing young men and women,” who made the playoffs in every sport, sent the most teams to FFA state contests in school history and won the state marching band championship.

“This group knows how to win,” he said.

In the county seat, Quitman High School principal Jeff Tittle said he could not be more proud of the Class of 2025.

He listed the character traits they had learned, adding, that they had “learned to keep the main thing the main thing, staying focused on what truly matters. You’ve made Quitman proud.”

Each class acknowledged its members joining the United States armed forces.

In  Quitman, Jessica Lacy, Armando Chavarria, Armando Mendoza, Jordan Watts, Jack Clark and Skylar Walters.

In Mineola, Alexander Garcia, Blaine Harris, Olivia Hughes, Victoria Merimon, Patrick Spofford and Lilyanne Windle.

Valedictory and salutatory speeches were rendered by Mineola’s Olivia Hughes and Sarah Smith and Quitman’s Emilee Baker and Regina Soldevilla.

“I used to think that these valedictorian speeches were made by people who had everything figured out, who never got stressed, or who never turned in an assignment one minute before the deadline. But here I am, and I am proof that you do not have to be perfect, just consistent,” Hughes remarked.

Smith chose a theme “You’ve got this all wrong,” leading to a change in perspective. She then viewed the evening’s events and what led up to them from three perspectives, the friends and loved ones, the faculty and staff and the class itself, focusing on tomorrow and choosing how to view the world.

Baker spoke of the faculty who pushed them beyond what they thought they were  capable, with a few references to energy drinks.

She advised classmates to be proud not just of their grades and accomplishments, but of the people they have become.

Soldevilla talked about the rush of emotions, from excitement and anticipation to the lingering nostalgia. 

She said she witnessed many impressive accomplishments, as well as small moments of mutual struggles.

We took it all for granted, she said, to help make this a special night.

Each school’s top ten graduates were announced.

In addition to Baker and Soldevilla for Quitman are Sadie Vander Schaaf, Kendall Davis, Daniel Kernes, Katelyn DeGorostiza, Nicholas Williams, McKenna Wood, Cash Davis and Enrique Olvera.

After Hughes and Smith for Mineola are Gracie Lindley, Meelah Amason, Camila Delgadillo,  Nathalie Marquez, Calem Redding, Karen Marquez, Ryleigh Van Cleave and Macy Seaton.