POLSON — Even though it wasn’t the speech he had planned, Governor Steve Bullock gave a stirring address to Polson high school and middle students last Thursday, urging them to graduate to help both themselves and the state of Montana.

Bellowing through a torrential downpour that had closed in on Polson’s football stadium, Bullock jokingly threatened to make the student body spend the rest of the afternoon in the rain unless they promised to push themselves to academic success.

Besides showing some good old Montanan grit, the governor responded to the meteorological curveball with appropriate metaphors, telling students that “there will be rainy days ahead” and explaining that a good education can help them weather the storm.

“The decisions you make are going to expand your options or limit them,” Bullock told the students.

“We want you to become a success, not a statistic.”

Although shortened by the deluge, getting through Bullock’s speech reinforced the value of perseverance - a quality that students will need in order to realize the goal of graduating.

After the address, students took refuge in the school lobby, where some had the chance to have their pictures taken with the governor and ask him questions.

Senior Tyler Dupuis asked Bullock if he would speak at Polson’s graduation next June. Bullock, who has been known to address graduates at high schools and middle schools large and small, said he would love to but would need to check the calendar before committing.

If he does accept, let’s hope for better weather.