WESTPHALIA — Fatima alumna Tricia Orscheln urged the Class of 2026 to protect their mental health, embrace resilience, and “never stop trying” during the school’s commencement ceremony on Sunday.

Orscheln, a 1990 Fatima graduate, licensed professional counselor, author, and founder of Tree of Hope Counseling, blended personal stories, family lessons, and practical mental health advice into a message centered on positive self-talk, preparation, resilience, and protecting what her mother once described as the “human spirit.”

“Being selected by your senior class to share some ‘words of wisdom,’ and the importance of maintaining your mental health as you move forward, is a true honor,” Orscheln said. “Thank you for inviting me to share this special milestone with you.”

Senior Class Secretary Adalyn Berhorst introduced Orscheln by highlighting her decades of work in counseling, community service, and mental health advocacy. Berhorst noted that after Orscheln graduated from Fatima in 1990, she went on to earn her degree from Lincoln University in 1995. She opened Tree of Hope Counseling in 2015.

“Helping people help themselves has always been and will continue to be her greatest goal,” said Berhorst. “As our class prepares to take the next step into adulthood, we find Tricia’s journey and values especially meaningful. Many of us will now face change, uncertainty, and growth, much like the people Tricia has dedicated her career to supporting. We believe her insight, encouragement, and wisdom will leave a lasting impression on our class and serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, resilience, and service.

Orscheln reflected on her own years at Fatima, and the memories stirred while preparing her remarks. “Preparing my remarks brought back so many memories from the old Fatima gym,” she said. “These all started with my class proudly shouting our motto: ‘We’re the class that’s brave and mighty, we’re the class of 1990.’”

She recalled competing to “out scream” other classes during assemblies and basketball games in hopes of winning the school’s spirit stick while proudly wearing Fatima’s blue and gold colors.

“No matter what gym experience or school event you were a part of, I hope that you are leaving here today with a few lasting memories of your own,” Orscheln said. “I am proud to always be a Fatima Comet.”

Orscheln told graduates she wanted to “plant a few seeds” by sharing lessons passed down from family members and experiences that shaped her personally and professionally.

The first centered around what her father called “mental health algebra.”

“Around the age of 14, the two of us were sitting one evening at the table and something powerful happened,” Orscheln said. “We had somehow drifted into the topic of thoughts and attitudes.”

She remembered initially dreading what sounded like another math lesson. “I distinctly remember thinking ‘why is he going to torture me with this random math lesson?’” Orscheln said. “We both knew at the time I was likely holding on to a solid D in my algebra class.”

But the concept stayed with her.

“Algebra, as we know it, deals with negative and positive numbers,” Orscheln said. “‘Mental health algebra’ has to do with negative and positive thoughts.”

She explained her father’s formula. “For every negative thought that I had based on a situation, event, or behavior I encountered, I was to recognize that negative thought immediately, then counter it quickly by applying not one but two positive thoughts in its place,” said Orscheln. “The job of the first positive thought was to cancel out the initial negative. The job of the second positive thought was to keep me moving in a forward direction.”

Orscheln later found herself forced to apply the lesson after graduating from high school and taking a retail job where a store owner publicly criticized her work.

“The level of humiliation and embarrassment, in front of the customers and my co-workers, was beyond overwhelming,” she said, noting she rushed home after work and spoke with her parents around the family kitchen table. “The most unexpected turning point came from our talk. I immediately wanted to better myself because of the situation. I wanted to give college a try.”

The family prayed it was not too late for her to enroll at Lincoln University before creating a plan to visit the admissions office on Monday morning.

“Dad’s formula worked,” she said. “I was able to address such a negative situation by applying two positive thoughts.”

Orscheln said the first positive thought came through sharing her feelings with her support system, while the second came through creating a plan and focusing on what she could control moving forward.

“I enrolled as a full-time student and never looked back,” she said.

Orscheln challenged graduates to apply the same approach when life becomes difficult. “I challenge you to use ‘mental health algebra’ when obstacles or negativity try to throw you off your path,” she said. “Remain resilient by using positive thoughts and remembering your true worth.”

Another lesson came from her late husband Eric, whom she described as “a true warrior.”

“He wasn’t the most talkative person in the room, but once you got to know him, you quickly wanted to become his friend,” Orscheln said. “He had a uniqueness about him — known for his strong work ethic and was always considered humble.”

She recalled watching him prepare for work while they were newly married, living in a small mobile home, and co-owning a construction company. As he packed tools into his toolbox, she questioned why he needed so many.

“He said, ‘When I go out onto a job site, I want to be prepared for any obstacles I might run into during the day,’” Orscheln said.

That moment inspired her to create the idea of a “mental health toolbox” in her counseling career.

“As a counselor, I could help people obtain a higher quality of life by offering them a variety of tools for their ‘mental health toolbox,’” Orscheln said.

Those tools, she explained, might include positive thinking, healthy communication, coping strategies, breath work, music, journaling, hobbies, mindful walks, or simply reaching out to someone.

“That’s what I have done for the last 25 years: helping people construct and fill up their mental health toolbox continues to be my ongoing mission,” Orscheln said. “No two toolboxes are alike.”

She also spoke emotionally about her mother, whom she described as her “angel on earth.”

“This is the person who loves unconditionally, is there to listen with an open mind,” said Orscheln. “A person you trust. This person does not judge or cross healthy boundaries, and their hugs never run out.”

During one difficult period involving her husband Eric’s brain injury journey, Orscheln said her mother introduced her to the idea of the “human spirit.”

“She taught me about hers and how she refused to let anyone or any situation in her life put it out,” said Orscheln, comparing it to a candle. “It’s like a little candle burning inside of us. At times, it’s big and bright, and other times in life, it might start to flicker.”

Her mother then delivered a message that Orscheln said she has shared with others regularly ever since. “Tricia Marie, the only way to break your human spirit is to let someone or something do it to you,” Orscheln recalled.

She encouraged graduates to continually nurture that inner spirit through positive self-talk. “Positive self-talk is the key ingredient to preserving this awesome feeling that glows inside all of us,” said Orscheln.

She reminded graduates that commencement represented a beginning rather than an ending.

“Graduation is not an end, but a beginning transition into the world of possibilities waiting for you,” she said, urging students to pursue their goals courageously while understanding life rarely follows a straight path. “Chase your dreams with courage and passion. Remember, the path to success is not always a straight line; there may be twists and turns along the way.”

Orscheln encouraged graduates to trust themselves, stay true to their values, and remain open to new opportunities while remembering they carry the support of those who believe in them. “I challenge you to use the mental health algebra tool,” she said. “Become motivated to fill up your own mental health toolbox — it’s always with you.”

She also reminded students that vulnerability is not weakness. “It’s okay to feel vulnerable,” Orscheln said. “It’s not a weakness. It helps us build strength.”

Orscheln then tied her message back to the graduating class’s chosen song lyrics.

“I started this speech with my class motto … and want to end it with your class song,” she said. “‘Drench yourself in words unspoken’ — positive self-talk. ‘Live your life with arms wide open’ — new possibilities. ‘Today is where your book begins’ — never stop trying. ‘The rest is still unwritten.’ Congratulations.”

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

High School Principal Somer Hinshaw graduates to recognize those who helped them reach this milestone.

“Behind every cap and gown is someone who encouraged you, sacrificed for you, believed in you, pushed you, prayed for you, or simply refused to give up on you when things got hard,” Hinshaw said. “At this time, I’d like each of you to take your rose to one person who supported you and helped shape your journey to this stage. It may be a parent, grandparent, sibling, teacher, coach, family friend, or anyone who stood beside you and helped you become the person you are today.”

In addition to recognizing parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of graduating seniors who were also Fatima graduates, Hinshaw highlighted students who attended R-3 continuously from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Hinshaw praised the senior class after serving her first year as a principal. “You’ve taught me that there’s a lot more to people than what you hear about them,” she said. “I walked into this year hearing a lot, and you’ve shown me that when people are treated with respect, trust, and truly seen through who they are, they often rise to the occasion.”

Hinshaw described the class as “resilient, hilarious, compassionate, and capable of more than you realize,” before sharing several humorous moments from the school year.

Among them were “Sam convincing me his name was Dave,” Hinshaw noted, and “Josh trying to negotiate his way into OSS, and joked she learned that at Fatima, “reminding students that hunting season does not count as an excused absence is part of the job.”

Hinshaw then offered a final message to graduates. “Listen, be good, be proud of where you come from, and even when it’s hard, love others,” she said. “Parents, the character of these young men and women is hard to ignore. I saw it in quiet moments when they did not think I was watching or listening. I saw who they are.

“I will always remember the Class of 2026 as the senior class that made my very first year at Fatima very unforgettable,” Hinshaw added.

Members of the top 10% were announced, each with a 4.0 grade point average (summa cum laude): Michael Groene, Eden Le Page, Andrew Muenks, Addisyn Nilges, Kaedyn Rehagen, Peter Schwartz, Prosper Le Page, and Azure Luebbert.

Hinshaw also recognized students earning magna cum laude (3.8-3.9 GPA), laude (3.5-3.7 GPA), all scholarship winners, and Nichols Career Center students.

STUDENT INSIGHTS

Senior Class President Kaedyn Rehagen told classmates that graduation carried both excitement and emotional weight as the Class of 2026 prepared to move into the next stage of life.

“It’s strange standing here, because for so long, graduation felt far away,” Rehagen said. “It was always something in the distance, something we talked about, joked about, counted down to, and now somehow, after three new English teachers, it’s here.”

Rehagen mixed humor with reflection throughout the speech, joking about classmates, teachers, and memories formed during high school. “While we may lack in English, Ms. Stefan definitely taught us that we are way smarter than the Blair Oakians and Vienna,” he said. “She definitely taught Xavier how to use all nine of his toes to count.”

He also referenced classmates and memorable moments unique to the senior class. “One thing I don’t quite see is how Eli got scissors in his eye, or how Zach got bullied and got away with shaving his hair in the school bathroom,” Rehagen joked.

He also shared thoughts from a few classmates. “I want to take a quick second to give all the amazing people with us tonight a few words of wisdom from my fellow seniors and graduates,” Rehagen said. “From Janet Hirsch, ‘follow your own footsteps and be yourself, even when it seems easier to follow others.’ From Miley Buscher, ‘small steps today lead to big things tomorrow.’ From Tyler Bexten, ‘you’re only given one or two moments in a lifetime to truly live. Why look back at your footsteps when the path is straight ahead?’ From Elise Dickneite, ‘Life is short. Laugh every day, smile every day, thank God every day, make memories every day, and most importantly, have fun every day. Live a life with no regrets.’ From Ben Berhorst, ‘nobody has ever said being a cowboy is easy.’ From Dylan Schwartze, ‘the worst thing to do is nothing.’ From Ava Burr, ‘never let fear stop you from becoming who you are meant to be.’ And lastly, from me, change is not something to fight; it is something to embrace. Graduates, please, please take this advice with you throughout your journey ahead. And speaking of lessons learned the hard way, it feels like just yesterday we were freshmen doing push-ups and running at that dreaded military boot camp, questioning almost every decision that led us there.”

Beneath the humor, however, Rehagen emphasized the emotional reality of graduation and change. “We spent so much time wishing for this moment,” he said. “Wishing for the last bell, the last assignment, the last early morning. We wanted the freedom that comes with finishing, but no one really tells you that when the moment finally arrives, it doesn’t just feel exciting, it also feels heavy.

“We came in as athletes, artists, nerds, big truck guys, leaders, dreamers, and some of us changed categories every single year,” said Rehagen. “But today we’re one thing — graduates.”

He urged classmates to appreciate the people around them before life begins pulling them in different directions.

“Look around, seriously,” Rehagen said. “Look at the people next to you, the ones who pushed you, supported you, annoyed you, inspired you, challenged you, and sometimes drove you crazy. These are the people who helped build your momentum.”

Rehagen added that momentum would continue shaping graduates long after high school ended. “Momentum doesn’t care where you start,” he said. “It doesn’t care how many times you fall. It only cares if you keep going.

“So keep going when it’s uncertain, keep going when it feels like no one’s watching, and keep going even when no one can hear you,” Rehagen added. “Everything you’ve built here — that’s the momentum, and it’s already in full motion.”

He closed by encouraging classmates to embrace the future ahead of them.

“Class of 2026, it’s just the beginning,” Rehagen said. “Keep the momentum and embrace change. I have no doubt in the extraordinary things you all will accomplish, and I cannot wait to see your stories unfold. May God guide you down to your final destination, wherever that may be. I surely could have never asked for a better class.”

Senior Class Vice President Heidi Struemph reflected on the journey through high school, including the transitions and challenges she and her classmates faced together.

“It has been an esteemed gift to experience four years of high school with each and every one of you,” she said. “From a transition from junior high to a hazardous driving sophomore year, construction-filled junior year, and an entirely new school principal and superintendent (our) senior year, we have all worked together.”

Struemph recalled a lesson learned during pre-calculus class that became a life principle beyond mathematics.

“One phrase Ms. Stefan would often say during the time of proofs is, ‘If you stop and don’t know what to do, change the form,’” Struemph said. “In this simple phrase, one of the challenges to my mind’s ability to solve proofs slowly became a guiding principle in my life.”

She told classmates that life after high school would inevitably include setbacks, uncertainty, and unexpected changes. “I guarantee that your life after high school will not go exactly as you have planned in mind,” Struemph said. “There will be struggles, unexpected changes, and times when you feel stuck, hopeless, and overwhelmed. You hold the capability to alter your life at any given moment. It is in those moments of complexity and chaos that you must examine your life and decide how to change the form.”

Struemph encouraged graduates to pursue the lives they envision for themselves while remaining authentic. “Think of who you desire to be,” Struemph said. “Think of the things you wish to accomplish, the job you wish to have, the skills and knowledge you hope to acquire, and the impact you wish to make. As you step foot out into this world without opportunity and chance, do not hesitate to take risks. Do not lose your authenticity for the approval of others.”