JOPLIN, Mo. — President Barack Obama told Joplin High School graduates on Monday night that they are an inspiration to the world.
The 431 graduates have a sense of loss, compassion and community beyond their years, he said.
The tornado that destroyed one-third of Joplin on May 22, 2011, has helped make these graduates who they are and who they will be, Obama told the crowd of about 4,500 in the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern State University.
“That story is part of you now,” he said. “You’ve had to grow up quickly over the last year. You’ve learned at a younger age than most that we can’t always predict what life has in store for us. No matter how we might try to avoid it, life surely can bring heartache. Life involves struggle. And at some point, life will bring loss.
“But here in Joplin, you’ve also learned that we have the power to grow from these experiences. We can define our own lives not by what happens to us, but by how we respond. We can choose to carry on. We can choose to make a difference in the world. And in doing so, we can make true what’s written in Scripture — that ‘tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope.’”
Today marks one year after a tornado devastated Joplin, killing 161 people and destroying or damaging half of Joplin’s 20 school buildings.
The tornado struck last year on the same day that commencement was held for Joplin High School.
“Last year, the road that led you here took a turn that no one could’ve imagined,” Obama told the crowd. “Just hours after the class of 2011 walked across this stage, the most powerful tornado in six decades tore a path of devastation through Joplin that was nearly a mile wide and 13 [miles] long. In just 32 minutes, it took thousands of homes, hundreds of businesses, and 161 of your neighbors, friends and family.”
The 2012 graduates of Joplin High School have a different perspective, different life experiences that set them apart, the president said.
“I imagine that as you begin the next stage in your journey, you will encounter greed and selfishness, ignorance and cruelty,” he said. “You will meet people who try to build themselves up by tearing others down. You’ll meet people who believe that looking after others is only for suckers.
“But you are from Joplin. You will remember. You will know just how many people there are who see life differently, who are guided by kindness and generosity and quiet service.”
After the storm, about 50,000 volunteers came to help the people of Joplin, Obama said.
“There are so many good people in the world,” Obama said. “There is such a decency, a bigness of spirit, in this country of ours. So the class of 2012, you have to remember that. ... Make sure to pay it forward.”
Obama said he was happy to hear that many Joplin graduates had decided to stay in the area.
“My deepest hope for all of you is that as you begin this new chapter in your life, you will bring that spirit of Joplin to every place you travel and everything you do,” he said. “You can serve as a reminder that we’re not meant to walk this road alone, that we’re not expected to face down adversity by ourselves. We need each other. We’re important to each other. We’re stronger together than we are on our own.”
Front Section, Pages 6 on 05/22/2012