Javius Taylor said that this year has been a great one to close out his unusual high school experience. Taylor was one of the 248 members of Owensboro High School’s 150th graduating class, whose ceremony took place Friday night at Rash Stadium.
The pandemic hit when Taylor was a sophomore, and he and his peers had to adjust to the new learning environment.
“It was just really hard to deal with and I kind of struggled with virtual. I still got through but it was really hard,” Taylor said.
For Taylor, it was a complete change — as it not only affected how he learned, but how he competed. Taylor was a running back for the OHS football team, a consistent track runner, and even a cheerleader for a brief stint at Nationals.
Coming out of the pandemic, Taylor said he has seen a lot of that change for the better — from more crowds during games, to classes opening back up, and now simply feeling like a real high school experience again. And he wouldn’t have his experience any other way.
He said OHS prepares students for a lot of things in life, but one of the biggest is the diversity at the school giving them a taste of real life.
“We’re very diverse. You’ll meet every person that you will meet in the world here,” Taylor said. “I learned how to talk to a bunch of different people … and I feel like that kind of helped me grow up.”
He also thanks his teachers and peers for contributing to his experience.
Taylor said his classmates are heading in all directions as they move on in life: several are headed to elite colleges on academic scholarships, some are pursuing fine arts passions in college, many are taking advantage of athletic scholarships, and the list goes on.
According to Taylor, the class of 2022 reached post-secondary readiness at the highest rate of any class prior. Beyond the classroom, their National Honor Society contributed over 2,000 hours of community service.
Superintendent Dr. Matthew Constant said that as the graduating class continues on to their next stage of life he encourages them to never forget the time and experience they had at OHS.
“You will make your mark sooner or later, but sooner rather than later perhaps we will see you on a future video … or your picture will be hanging on the main staircase in our Hall of Achievement,” Constant said. “We will watch you stay in Owensboro and make it a better place. We will see you go off to new cities pursuing your dreams. But always, always remember your home here at Owensboro High School.”
