SANDPOINT — Armed with curiosity, literary wisdom and unshakable resilience, 29 Forrest Bird Charter School graduates received their diplomas Saturday, ready to tackle whatever the world throws at them.

"They're not just kindhearted and compassionate, they show incredible resilience and they can adapt to change," Mary Jensen told the 29 graduates and a packed room in the Sandpoint Events Center auditorium. "Some might be kicking and screaming to that adaptation, but they do change. Some are more than willing to change and just jump in the pool without thinking about it."

Student speaker Helen Marble admitted she was one who tried to change things, such as attempting to get Jensen to allow the school's students to have more access to their phones. She joked that she spent so much time fine-tuning her speech that she probably deserves extra credit.

She recalled freshman biology class and learning about the scientific method, which brings her to the point of her speech.

"I've come to realize that this method can apply to so much more than just the science lab, including acting as a template for figuring out who we truly are," Marble said.

The first step is observation and the second is to question, both of which they all did throughout their high school careers.

"High school has given us an education and allowed us to push outside of the box that the world wants to put us in, or that we've put ourselves in," Marble said. "But hypotheses don't mean much without testing them, and I trust we've all done our share of experimenting."

Whether through dyeing their hair to trying out for a sport or joining a club, experimentation helped them learn and grow and is leading them to find out what their passions are.

"The goal is to be happy with your life and what you push yourself with, because everything else doesn't matter," she said. "As we jump into what the textbooks would call the real world, my advice would be to keep pushing forward, keep experimenting, evaluating and pointing to conclusions about who you are, where you want to fit in, and how that makes you happy."

After retrieving his speech from his seat, Forrest Bird Charter High School English teacher Michael Bigley began by telling them a story about a seemingly ordinary boy living an unremarkable, but difficult life. After being sent to a school for wizards, he had various adventures and comes face to face with dark magic and overcomes it in an expected way.

"But this is not that story," said Bigley, prompting many of the graduates to chuckle.

The story he wanted to share with them, "The Wizard of Earthsea," was written by Ursula K. Le Guin.

In the dozens of books they've read together and discussions of countless movies, songs and poems, Bigley said he never tried to explain any of the lessons possibly offered by the stories.

Instead, he reminded them that he approached the stories, and encouraged them to do the same, by asking a simple question: "What is going on?"

Any good piece of art, whether a painting or a story, is going to resist an easy explanation, but he did have some advice for them based on one of his favorite stories, "The Wizard of Earthsea."

First, be humble, Bigley told them.

The hero has tremendous gifts but doesn't know how to handle them at first. He is proud, vainglorious, competitive and eager to prove himself. While they should know and be proud of their gifts, the Forrest Bird Charter High School teacher encouraged the graduates to do more with them.

"I want you to see them as opportunities to contribute, to teach, to share, to uplift others, to lead to a common good, not glory," he added. "Appreciate and accept recognition, but never, never let recognition be your goal."

Second, don't give up their spark.

Bigley told the graduates he recently talked with an acquaintance who was delighted that his 10-year-old daughter had not lost her spark. She was still excited and still approaching life with joy and delight.

"Please, never stop being curious," Bigley said. "Never believe that you have nothing left to learn."

Third, know their complicated self.

"The Wizard of Earthsea" doesn't end with a climactic battle. Instead, the hero faces himself and realizes that he, like all people, has inherent contradictions, good parts and bad parts.

"Look at yourself, face your contradictions and accept them," Bigley said. "Accept the multiplicity of self, accept your gifts and your limitations, accept that you are not here to rule the world or to save it and still vow to do the good you can."

Jensen applauded all of the graduates, saying their fortitude, hard work and kindness make them exceptional individuals. They have battled — and overcome — personal challenges and shared grief, losing teacher John Stevens and beloved Principal Eric Fulgenzi 18 months later in July 2024.

While Fulgenzi's wife, Kim Mlinarik, was asked to speak at the ceremony, she was unable to do so in person. Instead, she recorded her speech to be played at Saturday's graduation.

"I know Eric thought the world of you," she told the graduates. "You inspired him. You made him laugh. You challenged him, which is good because it made him better. And, most importantly, he had all the faith in the world that you are destined to do great things, and so do I."

Mlinarik reminded them of a phrase her husband included in his emails: "Be true to yourself, walk with integrity, doing your best to be honest and accountable."

The graduates have weathered heartbreak, overcome personal and academic challenges and more.

"You've dreamed, fallen flat and gotten back up again throughout your high school careers," she told them. "Some of you have worked multiple jobs to support your family, you conquered your fears, you battled injury and illness to be seated here today. ... You did this because you are strong and resilient. You are in this auditorium taking part in this ceremony because you refuse to stay down. You continue to work hard, be kind, respect one another's differences and you have proven your remarkable resilience and remarkable character."

Mlinarik reminded them of another saying her husband was fond of: If you believe it, you can achieve it.

"You were born to do something so special and unique that only you can offer the world," she told them. "And I know that feels like pressure, but there's something about you that stands out to your family and friends that you may not even notice because you do it so naturally. It's not something you try to do, it's something so special, it's a superpower that just radiates from you and that is your magic."

After presenting their diplomas and before sending them off to celebrate with their families, Jensen had a few last words of advice for the graduates.

"Ask questions of everything," the school's executive director told the 29 graduates. "Work hard to respect other people's viewpoints while maintaining your own. Support people in need, show empathy, love and be kind. Remember what kindness people have done for you and pay that kindness back by being good to others."

Remember those traits, practice them and hold them close, she told them.

"I ask you not to forget these as you travel the road in adulthood," she added. "These traits are far more important than the academics, and you will need them for your entire life."

    Forrest Bird Charter graduates are presented with the Eric Fulgenzi Scholarship at Saturday's commencement.
  

    Myah Francis smiles after receiving an honor at Saturday's Forrest Bird Charter graduation.
  

    A Forrest Bird Charter graduate gets help fixing their cap.
  

    Forrest Bird Charter graduates listen to a speech at Saturday's graduation.
  

    A Forrest Bird Charter graduate is pictured with waiting to head onto the stage to receive his diploma.
  

    Helen Marble is pictured waiting to give her speech at Saturday's Forrest Bird Charter graduation.
  

    Michael Bigley talks to Forrest Bird Charter graduates at Saturday's commencement ceremony.
  

    Odin Clark and Myah Francis give each other a thumbs up after they were recognized at Saturday's Forrest Bird Charter graduation ceremony.