Living the dream and living for others: The Lehigh Valley Academy class of 2017 is prepared to do both.

At the May 30 commencement, CEO Susan Mauser told the 59 graduates, “You have what it takes to be what you dream of being.” She reminded them that making dreams come true will take grit, which she defined as “the ability to manage your fear of failure.” Failure is a part of the process, not the end, Mauser said. She quoted Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do something that scares you every day.”

Reaching beyond fear and working hard will help make dreams into reality, Mauser said. “You need to go for the gold and not just show up for the practice. In the end it will pay off,” she told the class.

Jennifer Nonnemacher, principal of the Junior/Senior High School at LVA, also reminded the graduating class to respect others and continue to have a strong work ethic. “Put everything you have into it,” she said.

Each speaker built on the theme embodied in the school’s alma mater, “Lifelong learning be our key in service to humanity.”

The class of 2017 is writing their life stories, empowering both themselves and others, said Andrew Hall, English teacher at LVA. “You are writing your story but someone else is reading it. Don’t be afraid to tell your story. There are people who want to hear it,” Hall said.

Alumni speaker Rachel Luce told the class that they have “invaluable knowledge gained through living.” She told the class to “Empower yourself by using knowledge you have already have to assist in your future living.”

Student Council President Jonathan Skee urged his classmates to serve others and do good, affecting people now and in the future. Taking a piece of paper and crumbling it up, he showed it to the audience and said, “Together we can do our best to iron out the wrinkles. The world has passed us this piece of paper. We should leave the world a little less wrinkly.”

As part of the graduation ceremony, students showed a video they had made, speaking about what they had learned at LVA and their future plans.

Student speaker Dillon West told his classmates to “learn the true value of friendship” and take that friendship with them wherever they travel. “Go out and make your future,” he said.