Life is good co-founder Bert Jacobs brought his message of optimism as the featured speaker.
MONTAGUE - “Life is Good” could have been the theme of the 2011 Franklin County Technical School graduation Friday in the Turners Falls section of Montague where the completion of high school was celebrated and Life is good co-founder Bert Jacobs was the featured speaker.
He brought the message of optimism that characterizes the Life is good company, a $100-million privately held business based in Boston that sells colorful apparel and accessories. Its mission is to spread the message of the power of optimism and how it can change lives.
In 1994, with $78 in the bank, Bert and his brother, John, officially launched Life is good; now its products are sold by more than 4,500 retailers nationwide and in some 30 countries.
Optimism is not only enjoyable, it is powerful, Jacobs said. “The power of optimism can make things happen.”
Optimism is self-fulfilling; “If you believe in yourself and believe you can make things happen, it opens opportunities,” he said.
He encourages people to celebrate the moment and to be grateful for what they have. “As soon as you are grateful, it puts a bounce in your step.”
“You have to learn how to be happy today in order to be happy tomorrow,” he said.
Christopher N. Jennison, of Greenfield, was the Franklin County Technical School Class of 2011 valedictorian. Salutatorian was Calvin J. McKemmie, of Sunderland.
Half of the 117 graduates are going on to college.
Principal Richard Martin was quick to point out the accomplishments of some of the class members: All eight of the graduates in the health technology program passed an EMT exam; all four cosmetology graduates passed a licensure exam; carpentry graduates worked on a Habitat for Humanity house in Greenfield; and plumbing and electrical graduates worked on an addition to the Peace Pagoda in Leverett.
Martin noted that Tyler F. Jarvenpaa, of Orange, a member of the Class of 2011, is a stock car racer and brought his car to school for his capstone project. “It looked amazing,” he said.
“It’s fascinating to know that when I give them their diplomas, they are going to go out and make an immediate difference” in the world, Martin said of the graduates.