The 2017 graduating class of Whittier High School were encouraged to never give up, to be good people and to give back to others.
Keynote speaker Zoë Dirck was introduced by Becki Richardson, who is retiring this year after working in the school district for 28 years.
“Every student at Whittier High school has their own story,” Richardson told the graduating class. “Our guest speaker tonight is a 2010 Whittier High School graduate. What I remember most about Zoë Dirck is how smart she is and how determined she was to graduate.”
Dirck, 24, a single mother, who is now an emergency medical technician with the Pettis County Ambulance District encouraged the class to never give up. She added that she was honored to be asked to be the keynote speaker.
“My journey at Whittier started when I was 16,” she said.
She noted that she was going through the “normal trials and tribulations of adolescence” when she found that she was pregnant.
“Suddenly getting my high school education became so much more challenging,” she said. “Some people had written off my chance of ever graduating. But with the help of Whittier, I stand here today a graduate of Whittier High School. “
She added that Whittier made a huge “impact” in her life.
“First off, the staff at Whittier treated me with kindness,” Dirck told the class. “Every day when I walked through the doors, I was warmly greeted. All my teachers understood my situation.”
She added that because of their kindness she was able to “still feel almost like a normal high school student.”
“Myself and a few other teen moms at Whittier attended a Parents as Teachers program once a month with a woman who specialized in our situations,” Dirck said. “The information learned at these meetings was a great help to me and the other moms.”
She noted that another benefit of attending Whittier was the smaller classroom setting.
“Teachers were able to give any student, who needed it, one-on-one help anytime they needed it,” she said. “I keep my friends and family close and at Whittier High School I gained a whole new family. Once you attend Whittier they are your family for life. “
Dirck’s son was born in July 2009. Due to her determination to succeed, she was able to graduate ahead of schedule at age 17.
“My education didn’t stop there after graduating,” she told the students. “On my 18th birthday, I began classes at State Fair Community College. I had a 2-year-old, a job and college classes. So, to say the least this was a trying time for me.”
Between the ages of 18 and 21 she took a break from education.
“But, all was not lost, because when one door is closing another is opening,” Dirck said. “At age 21, I was given the huge opportunity to be something I wanted to be since I was 5-years-old, an emergency medical technician.
“Yeah, that’s right I get to be in a big ambulance and make lots of noise, along with serving my community,” she added smiling. “To make my story even sweeter, my dad Eric Dirck would be my EMT instructor.”
Dirck has worked for PCAD now for three years.
“I love it,” she added. “I’ve created a whole new life now for me and my son. So, I’m a single mom now with a full-time career and I can further my education. I am currently furthering that in emergency medicine. There is no excuse to stop learning, no one can take your knowledge away from you.”
She said she wanted to share with the graduates the “wisdom” she’s gained since 2010.
“The harder you work for the the things you have, the more you’ll appreciate them,” Dirck said. “So, class of 2017, I say organize your life and do good things. Be a good person and give something back to the world and the ones who helped you. If you do good, good things will follow. Collect your graduation certificates with pride, we will always be a part of this school and the Whittier family.
“When you embark for strange places, after you leave here … from what I’ve seen the world is a pretty great place.”
The 2017 Whittier High School graduating class poses for a professional photo before ceremonies began Friday evening at SCJS. During the ceremony Sedalia School District 200 Board Vice President David Wolf told the class “You did it, you pushed yourself harder, no matter what curve balls came your way, you said life is not going to beat me.”