BAKER — Malcolm Griffith is glad he overcame pain to join 96 classmates for Baker School's high school graduation.
PHOTOS: See 30 photos from the 2014 Baker School Graduation>>
“I knew this was something I had to do because this was the last thing I could do with my class,” he said.
Griffith was cleared to attend Thursday night's commencement at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium after having his appendix removed on Sunday.
He was restricted to a wheelchair before and after the ceremony, and there was still some pain, but Griffith managed to keep a smile on his face.
James Cook, his grandfather, was happy to see his grandson at the ceremony.
“He begged the doctors to let him out …,” Cook said. “This was what he was looking forward to.”
2014 Valedictorian Sophia Chaitha said that "graduating is very exhilarating … to know that we finally made it after such a long period of time; we have finally grown up."
Still, Chaitha — who heads to Florida State University in the fall — said she will miss her small town.
Max Poulsen agreed.
“I’m going to miss seeing the same people I’m used to seeing every day,” he said.
And he'll miss working in the school’s video production program, he said.
But Amanda Poulsen, his mother, anticipates seeing what her son can accomplish.
“We are looking forward to a bright future and more exciting things from him,” she said.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School's Class of 2014 celebrates graduation(PHOTOS)