Perryville High School’s graduating Class of 2024 chose teacher Kersten Fulmer to deliver the commencement address as they bid farewell to PHS on May 17.
Fulmer is a special education teacher at PHS. She joined the staff of Perry County School District 32 in 2018 as an elementary paraprofessional and moved to the high school in 2020. She has been a math resource instructor and co-taught English. Fulmer holds an associate of arts degree in teaching from Mineral Area College, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Central Methodist University, and a certification in Special Education K-12. Next year, she will teach self-contained core classes in a special education setting. She has one son, Jaxson, and is the daughter of Jerry and Jessica Gunter, and Paul and Jennifer Fulmer.
Ms. Fulmer's address to the Class of 2024:
We are the Trees
Thank you Mr. Shafer for the thoughtful introduction, it is truly an honor to stand here before such an exquisite and supportive community, along with a remarkable and driven group of students. This evening is for all of you; the parents, the guardians, the grandparents, and each individual who was the backbone and extra push behind this wonderful success story we see before us and for you, our students, who put the work in no matter how difficult and persevered to reach your end goal. Congratulations class of 2024 you made it through another impactful milestone and you have arrived here tonight, your graduation, prepared for the next step in your future. We are so proud of you.
Four years ago I began my journey as a high school special education teacher and I was privileged to work with this group of students for most of those years as they progressed through their English courses. I never imagined the impact they would have on me when I walked into the classroom on my first day or that I would impact them enough to be able to stand here today. My students, you have helped shape me into the teacher and person I am today as I learned alongside you and watched you grow and thrive. Through successes, disappointments, laughter, and tears every single one of you have shown a light so bright I couldn’t help but follow and encourage. You have shown me that I am a light that you follow and encourage. You have allowed my light to shine and reach so many of you and I thank you for that. You boosted my confidence in my ability to be an all encompassing teacher, focusing not only on your education but all the little things in between. You showed me that more often than not, believing in you was all you really needed and in return you believed in me and together we started to become the best version of ourselves, me as your teacher and you as my students.
It’s bittersweet to know our journey has come to an end, but so exciting to know that you will continue to perfect the best version of you and that your light will shine in all the places that you go. As you start your next journey, I hope you remember all the lessons that you have learned and the strength that you possess. Your futures are bright and full of endless possibilities, but as life begins to speed up, remember to slow down and appreciate the view.
I was reminded of the significance of this while driving home one day. I drive the same route home, the scenery is always the same and has been for years so although I am paying attention to where I am driving, I don’t always notice the details. However, on this day, it dawned on me that all the leaves had fallen off of the trees and they were bare. The last time I remember looking, the leaves were only beginning to change. Somehow I got busy with life and the leaves finished their cycle, their vibrant colors lost as they fell slowly over time and I did not notice. This moment sticks with me because I couldn’t fathom how I missed something that was in front of my eyes on a regular basis. It’s the extra details I missed even though I thought I was making an effort to be more aware. As an adult and a mother, I know first hand how fast time moves and I realized this was my reminder I needed to pause. I promised myself at that moment that I would pay better attention to the leaves. That I would notice when they came back, full of life. That I would watch them grow and thrive through every change in their environment. And the next time it comes for them to go, I wouldn’t miss it again.
As I once heard, "In a world that often rushes past us in a blur, slowing down to appreciate the little things becomes an act of rebellion against the chaos. It's in these moments of stillness that we find the true essence of life - the beauty in a sunrise, the warmth of a smile, the melody of laughter. Embracing these simple pleasures is not just about savoring the moment, but about rediscovering the richness that surrounds us every day." As you go through your next phases of life, continue to celebrate the big things but remember the small things are victories too. Every moment you go through is a new lesson you can take with you, and often when you look back you realize it was actually all the small things that brought you to your greatest achievements and gave you your greatest joys. Know that the leaves will always continue to change and fall and come back then change and fall again. And just like the leaves you will cycle through change, falling, and rising back up again. Appreciate what happens between the change, remember you have the strength to withstand the fall, and as the trees know, be confident in knowing the leaves will always come back.
Sheryl Sandberg, a philanthropist and writer, said, “Some of you have already experienced the kind of tragedy and hardship that leave an indelible mark. The question is not if some of these things will happen to you. They will. The easy days ahead of you will be easy. It is the hard days—the times that challenge you to your very core—that will determine who you are. You will be defined not just by what you achieve but by how you survive." As the trees, you will endure unpredictable weather and be expected to stand tall. Life keeps going even when the weather isn’t ideal and your responsibilities will still be your responsibilities even on the darkest of nights. In these moments, know that we are the trees, forever growing our resilience, built to survive even the strongest of storms.
Mrs. Sandberg also speaks on resilience saying, “The most important thing I learned is that we are not born with a certain amount of resilience. It is a muscle and that means we can build it. We build resilience into ourselves. We build resilience into the people we love. And we build it together, as a community. It’s in our relationships with each other that we find our will to live, our capacity to love, and the power to make lasting change in the world.” Every moment leading up to now and every person you have met, has been the foundation for the resilience you already possess. The successes and the failures, the good and the bad, have created these incredible human beings that sit before me. In times of doubt remember you are capable of surviving whatever life hands you. At this time, you have survived one hundred percent of everything that has come your way. You have learned to rely on yourselves when that’s what was necessary and you have learned to rely on others when you knew you couldn’t do it alone. You are deepening your roots and expanding your branches.
I have faith that your journeys will blossom at all the right moments, and that your hearts will be full. Remember to slow down and follow your path as it comes, embrace the unexpected and cherish the laughter that warms your soul and gives you reasons to be grateful. As you welcome the journey of adulthood, may you find comfort in the beauty of the unknown and strength in the bonds of friendship and love. With every step you take, may you discover the deepness of your resilience and the power of your dreams. As you wait to cross this stage, let us acknowledge that life's greatest journeys often begin with a single step. With hearts fueled by passion and eyes bright with endless possibilities, we take this first step together, all of us. Congratulations Class of 2024, the world is in your hands now and our hearts will always follow.