Sarah Nigbor

This time of year, reporter Andrew Harrington and I have the privilege of covering all sorts of exciting end of the school year events highlighting the accomplishments of the graduating classes. I love the palpable joy especially of the commencement ceremonies. It brings me back to the excitement I felt 28 years ago when I graduated with the River Falls High School Class of 1998.

I wish I knew then what I know now. I would give my 17-year-old self a huge hug and tell her everything is going to be alright, to not be so afraid, to not worry so much about trying to be perfect to please everyone else. That life after high school is going to be amazing, full of joy and heartache, love and pain, so many wonderful friends and good times. I was so scared of disappointing anyone, of being noticed or in the spotlight, of being a failure. When I think of all the things I didn’t do because I was scared of failing…it makes me sad. I was bullied throughout my school years and wanted nothing more than to shrink into the background. I loved playing volleyball but was scared of getting teased. I dropped out of band because I didn’t think I was good enough. I never tried out for a school play because I was terrified of being onstage, plus worried that people might make fun of me. I didn’t have a shred of confidence in myself. That would one day change, thanks in part to the people who believed in me, but I also learned to believe in myself.

Three presenters at the Ellsworth High School Senior Awards Program May 18 really struck a chord with me. I hope the kids in the audience were listening and really take their words to heart. I wish I had had someone tell me these things at their age.

Marcie Jahnke, presenting the Nick Jahnke Memorial Scholarship in memory of her brother-in-law, urged students to strive for a meaningful life. Life is not measured strictly by success and its trappings, but by strong relationships, purposeful work, personal growth and service to others. As she spoke, I thought about the meaning I’ve found in my life. I might not be rich, but I get to do what I love every day. I get to share the stories of others with the world. I get to help people be informed about the world around them. I get to tell the stories of my beloved Pierce County and connect with readers like you. Money can’t buy that. Sometimes I get down on myself for staying close to home all these years, instead of chasing a high-paying career somewhere far away. But really, I think I am where I was supposed to be all along.

Josie Erlandson presented the Marlee May Erlandson Memorial Scholarship in memory of her little daughter Marlee. “Regret is much scarier than taking a risk,” she told the students. I thought about the list I shared with you above, how that regret has eaten at me all these years. Josie’s right. Without risk there’s no reward. I have never regretted trying something new, even if I was terrified. When I was appointed editor of the Pierce County Herald back in the day, I was scared to death. But I’m forever glad I did it because it brought me to where I am now.

Lastly, Maria Dopp presented the Robbie Dopp Legacy Career Resources Grant, which honors her late husband, a commercial pilot, engineer and flight instructor. She shared that a counselor once told him he wasn’t college material, but he didn’t listen. He graduated college and pursued a career he loved. We can control what’s on the inside, but not what everyone around us thinks and does, she said. Her words sunk to the tips of my toes. This is a lesson that took me a long, long time to learn. It’s still a work in progress actually, but I have found so much more peace learning to let go of focusing on what everyone else thinks.

Thank you to all the educators and community members who believe in our kids. And thank you to everyone who believed in me even when I was unsure of myself: my foreign language teachers at RFHS (Srta. Muenich, Srta. Hoffman, Mlle. Dougherty, Mme. Farrier), my French professor Sandra Soares at UWRF, my journalism professor the late Michael Norman, newspaper publisher Steve Dzubay and former news director Anne Jacobson. I can never thank you enough.