SACO — Thornton Academy Class speaker Andrew Huot had some unusual advice Sunday for his fellow graduates.

“I hope you fail,” he said at the graduation ceremony Sunday, held on campus at Hill Stadium. After the laughter that this comment generated subsided he continued, “I hope you fail because it means you’re pushing your limits and redefining your comfort zone.” He noted that many of the most successful people have failed, including Abraham Lincoln who was defeated in eight elections, and Babe Ruth who not only held a record for home runs, but also a record for strike outs.

“The fact is, if you don’t fail, you’ve lived your life so cautiously, you may as well not have lived at all,” he said.

Class Valedictorian Wenhui “Jessie” Zhao told about leaving her family and friends in China to attend Thornton Academy and pursue opportunities not available to her parents. She said sometimes sacrifices are required to achieve goals, and she was grateful for the friends she had made at Thornton who were always there to support her.

Headmaster Rene Menard told the 348 graduates that as they begin the next chapter of their lives and journey into adulthood, know that the people back at Thornton are rooting for them.

“Remember wherever you go, you will always be part of our community,’ said Menard.

“The possibilities are endless,” said faculty speaker and history teacher Natalie Sharland. She urged students to travel, try new things, not to stress about things they couldn’t control and to laugh often.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].