Valedictorian Mohid Khan (left) and Salutatorian Samuel Woodward during the 60th Commencement ceremony of Bishop Guertin High School on May 31. Courtesy photo/Bishop Guertin High School

NASHUA – For the 187 seniors of Bishop Guertin High School, their four years on Lund Road came to an end on May 31 as the school celebrated its 60th Commencement ceremony.

During his Valedictory Address, Mohid Khan spoke about turning failure into confidence, avoiding envy and living in the present.

“People have asked me whether I ever struggled in school,” he said. “Here’s just some evidence that high school was challenging — a 73 on a reading quiz, a 53 on a chemistry quiz, a zero on a physics assignment, a 50 on a physics quiz, you get the point.”

He said that although it is not uncommon to grow envious of others, things are not always as they appear.

“Our lives are dictated by social media, where everyone’s life is on display and seems to be thriving. Naturally, we assume that we’re seeing the truth. At first, we’re happy at others’ success, but eventually, that happiness becomes jealousy,” said Khan, adding what he learned from Social Studies teacher Brad Bittman. “We can’t always trust our senses since they don’t provide a complete picture. Instead of feeling worthless by simple comparisons, we should use the question: ‘Why is my life not like that?’ to instill ambition.”

Members of the Bishop Guertin High School Class of 2026 during the school's 60th Commencement ceremony on May 31. Courtesy photo/Bishop Guertin High School

Khan also urged his classmates to never lose sight of the present.

“We must relish this day because this is probably the last time we’ll all be together as a class,” he said. “The people we spent a quarter of our lives with will soon leave us, probably forever. Whatever the future holds is uncertain, but we have the resources and ability to fight when pushed down.”

Khan also received awards in Math and Physical Science during the ceremony. He will be attending Yale University to study neuroscience and religious studies.

Salutatorian Samuel Woodward harkened back to freshman year, which began on Aug. 22, 2022.

“We got the first taste of the academic rigor here and the winning standard of Cardinal athletics was implemented with sports such as lacrosse, hockey and basketball,” he said. “Freshman year was a craze, with crammed lunch tables, shifting friend groups, intimidating classes and the occasional clout chase.”

Nearly 190 seniors threw their mortarboards in the air as they graduated from Bishop Guertin High School on May 31. Courtesy photo/Bishop Guertin High School

Woodward described sophomore year as a time of growth as he and his classmates participated in community service projects, varsity sports and getting their driver’s licenses.

“Many of my classes were very lively and fun,” he said, calling attention to the “daily dap ups” in English class. “On the horizon, was the infamous junior year, which was said to have haunted Bishop Guertin students.”

As new upperclassmen, Woodward and his classmates encountered mounting academic stress particularly in their Advanced Placement classes. He also said it was during junior year that he met some of Bishop Guertin’s most influential faculty members including Math teacher Christopher Howe, Social Studies teacher Chad Hapshe and English teacher Dr. Ryan Sherwood.

“We all survived the end of junior year,” said Woodward. “Our turn to be the big dogs was right around the corner.”

The class’ “final lap around the sun” began on Aug. 20, 2025.

“Our time to run the school had finally come,” said Woodward, adding that he and his classmates carried on the senior tradition of the hacky sack games. “Sack took the school by storm and everyone fooled one another.”

The class also continued its community service projects as well as posting athletic successes in soccer and hockey.

“After all of the ups and downs of this year and years before, we have finally made it to the end,” said Woodward. “We have gotten our college decisions after all of the tedious applications, we have planned our futures.”

In closing, Woodward said that before high school, he had always been “super focused on grades.”

“At Bishop Guertin, I realized that failure and struggle were a part of learning and that a balance between school and living your life is extremely important,” he said. “Go out on that Saturday night, go on that trip, try that new food, shoot your shot with that person, join that new club and enjoy every moment. Just make sure to do everything with integrity.”

Woodward received the Thomas Sullivan Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award and will be attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst.