If you drove here today and parked your car in the lot, you probably cut the corner of Franklin and Corlies and walked through that small dirt path in the grass. This path wasn’t always there. It is what’s known as a “desire path”–an unplanned, informal trail worn into the ground by foot traffic, typically representing the shortest or most intuitive route between an origin and destination.

Years ago, one student decided to step off the sidewalk to save a few seconds. Maybe someone was walking behind them and decided to follow suit. Maybe that person was walking with a friend who decided to walk in the grass too. Over time, the grass wore away, the dirt path became permanent, and the school made it real with cherry blossom trees and a plaque.

Today’s students pass by that path as if it has always existed, because, for them, it has. But if that first student had stayed on the sidewalk that first day, the path would never have been forged. Once you start to notice them, desire paths are everywhere–in parks, on college campuses, and virtually any public green space. But there are also desire paths in every one of us. 

I want you all to think about a path you followed rather than forged. Maybe your friend joined the lacrosse team freshman year and convinced you to play as well. Or perhaps you took AP US History junior year because everyone around you was, too. Or this past year, perhaps you applied to a certain college because it was “cool” and everyone else was applying there. I know I did. 

Now, I want you to think about a desire path you created. Maybe you founded Grassroots Grocery Club because you wanted to bring your passion to others. Or maybe you were the first teacher to teach a new class, such as AP Seminar or Supa Sociology. Or, perhaps you moved to Pelham without knowing a single person. 

Now, think about the outcomes of the paths you followed and the desire paths you created. The sport you joined and the club you founded were each rewarding in their own ways. But having the courage to follow our heart, our yearning, or our crazy idea and to build or discover something that wasn’t there before makes it available to all those behind us.

All paths that we follow began from a path that someone forged by going off script. The first person to create a desire path probably didn’t think they were starting anything meaningful. They were just making a choice. And that’s often how change begins–with a small decision made despite uncertainty. The moment you take that single daunting step astray from the regular path, you are forging a legacy for future generations. But the funny thing about desire paths is that they’re almost never intentional at first. No one wakes up and says, “Today I’m going to create something lasting.” Most people are simply acting on curiosity, passion, or instinct. Only later do they look back and see that others followed behind them. 

As we stand up here today, I recognize that none of this would be possible if one person or a collective hadn’t decided to build a school in this small town of Pelham, where there wasn’t one before. If Dr. Charles T. Wilson had never decided to devote a day to promoting friendly competition across all four grades, we would have never had such a meaningful, time-honored tradition as we do, despite our unfortunate loss. We are a testament to every student and faculty member, both past and present, as well as family and friends, who have decided to try something new, something different. 

For most of our lives, the paths ahead were mapped out for us. Elementary school became middle school, middle school became high school. But now, for the first time, many of us are stepping into spaces and stages without a clearly paved route. I invite you all to relish in and take advantage of this uncertainty. 

As we embark on the next chapters of our lives, we must remember this: We all have the power to shape our environments, to create opportunities, and to inspire others to do the same. I encourage each of you to embrace the unknown, to take those daring actions, and to remember that every path starts with a single step in a different direction. Let us continue to forge our own paths, not just for ourselves, but for the future generations who will walk behind us. Thank you all, and congratulations to the PMHS Class of 2026.

Celeste Kalehoff gave this speech during the commencement ceremonies Saturday at Pelham Memorial High School.