By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

BURRILLVILLE — It was a night of firsts for the 178 Burrillville High School seniors who earned diplomas at Friday’s 107th commencement.

Not only were members of the Class of 2008 the first required to meet new graduation requirements, but their graduation ceremony was held outside (for the first time ever) at the new Alumni Field football field, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Schools Superintendent Steven Welford. “It’s fitting that we’re here on Alumni Field because in about an hour you will be alumni,” Welford would tell the graduates.
Family members and friends filled the stands as the graduates, wearing robes in the traditional Broncos colors of blue and white, filed onto the field to the Burrillville High School Band’s rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance,” a procession that took a full 15 minutes.
“We live in a world that measures success by numbers,” said Welford, the first of several speakers to address the graduates.
“For me, the Class of 2008 has helped me to define what success really us. Your success is more accurately measured by the caring and concern you have shown to each other, your families and community. All of us join you in celebrating your accomplishments individually and collectively. Strive to make everything you are a part of better.”
School Committee Chairman Raymond Trinque described the Class of 2008 as one that not only adapted to the challenges of new educational requirements, but excelled beyond expectations in academics, sports and music.
“They left a mark and they will be missed,” he said.
Class Salutatorian Baillie McNally talked about guidance she received from her cross-country coach and the school’s athletic director. 
“They gave us some interesting advice before every race: ‘Watch out for trees,’ “ she said. “Now this seems like pretty common sense while running through the woods, but looking in retrospect and applying it to school as well as a race, it was some great advice.
“During a race, trees are obstacles. During school, there are also obstacles that we must avoid in order for us to succeed. While running the race, there are cones and other markers that point us in the right direction to the finish line. They keep us from going the wrong way or, if we aren’t paying close attention, they keep us from running straight into a pine tree. In an academic aspect, these cones that guide us and keep us safe resemble our administration and faculty.
“Beware, however, because not all cones are helpful. Some may point you in the wrong direction and you could get lost in the woods, as I am familiar with.
“In one dual race in Uxbridge, the cones looked confusing on the ground, and the path split in two,” McNally said. “Of course, I went the wrong way. Fortunately for me and my team, someone saw me go the wrong way and called me back. So even though there may be cones that send you in the wrong direction, there will always be others to help you out in the end.
“I will now leave the graduating class with some advice. Whatever path of the race of life you choose, look for the cones that will guide you in the right direction, and avoid any trees that may lead you to hardships. Confide in those around you for help, and look for others who may need you to be their cone. And remember Mr. B’s advice: ‘Watch out for trees.’”
Class of 2008 Valedictorian is Kayla F. Caron shared some of the lessons she learned in her four years at Burrillville High School. “Oscar Wilde once said, ‘It is well to remember from time to time that nothing worth knowing can be taught.’ This is true in that the greatest lessons I take from this time in my life are not the names, the dates, the facts, but the observations and realizations prompted by my family, my friends, and my instructors,” she said.
“Lesson number one, which I learned from my mother: The time for work is now because when it comes down to the wire, time, much like money, doesn’t grow on trees. Also, do your best to change what you can, and don’t bother to worry about the things that you cannot. Life is too short.”
“Lesson number two, which I learned from my father: A healthy life comes from the joining of a healthy body and a healthy mind,” Caron said. “If you work to be physically and mentally healthy, you can live a much longer, much calmer and much more productive life. Leave your work problems at work, or your school problems at school. That way, you can experience the joys of family and friends without the burden of pressure and anxiety.
“Lesson number three, which I learned from my sister: Working hard pays off because then you make bundles of money and you can pay other people to cook and clean. Actually, what she taught me is simple: you don’t need to work yourself to death to succeed. You just need to be studious and responsible and to put in good effort.
“And lastly, the lesson which I learned from my best friends, Kayla Mislick, Cat Fortier, Kristen Lavallee and Baillie McNally: Everyone fights. Conflict, and its subsequent resolution, is the key to any healthy relationship. The important part is that you take every disagreement, every bit of tension, and you learn more about yourself, about the other person, and about the world through it. No argument, no conflict is ever worth losing your friends or your loved ones.”