Guest speaker Joshua Kennison of Norway told graduates of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Rumford on Tuesday, “There’s nothing that’s too hard to overcome.”

Fifth-graders try to catch one of the frisbees thrown their way during their Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation in Rumford on Tuesday.

Maisy Chase reads her essay for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation in Rumford on Tuesday as her instructor, Rumford Police Sgt. Doug Maifeld, looks on.

Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructor Doug Maifeld, a Rumford police sergeant, high-fives his helper, Darryl-John McGraw, who was celebrating his fifth birthday, during the D.A.R.E graduation of fifth-graders Tuesday in Rumford.

Brooke Atkins and Zadok Blodgett hold their Drug Abuse Resistance Education certificates awarded Tuesday at graduation ceremonies at Mountain Valley High School. 

RUMFORD — “One thing I always had in my life was hope,” Josh Kennison of Norway told 90 fifth-graders at their Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation Tuesday.

“When you have a positive mindset, you can accomplish anything,” said the young man who was born without feet, lower arms, a tongue and a section of jaw.

Kennison, who is in his 20s, is also one of the fastest athletes on the planet. Carbon-fiber running blades, each weighing a couple of pounds, strap on to his legs.

In 2013, he won a bronze medal at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. In competitions around the world since, he has taken first place in races in Italy and the United States.

But it hasn’t been easy.

Kennison said that when he was younger, his self-esteem was low.

“I never wanted to go to the grocery store,” he said. “I never wanted to go out in public because people would stare at me. When people stare at you, it’s really uncomfortable. It’s not healthy in life to be uncomfortable.

“When you don’t look the same as other people, you really have to think about what it is you want to do in life,” he said. “That really is what kept me going.”

For Kennison, it was sports. He played soccer throughout middle and high school at Oxford Hills in Paris.

He closed his message to the Class of 2024, “Have hope, try to find what you love to do in life. There’s nothing that’s too hard to overcome.”

The graduates were from Meroby Elementary School in Mexico, Rumford Elementary Schools and Holy Savior School in Rumford.

Rumford Police Sgt. Doug Maifeld, who is in his 24th year of teaching the D.A.R.E. program, said it’s a lot more than teaching young people not to abuse drugs and alcohol. The program also teaches valuable life skills, such as:

• Exercise self-control, particularly when under stress and pressure;

• Identify the risk and consequences of choices;

• Make safe and responsible decisions;

• Communicate more confidently and effectively, developing strong relationships with peers, family and authority figures; and

• Become safe and responsible citizens by learning how to help others and know how to get help.

Graduates Maisy Chase, Brooke Bennett, Azra Dyer, Vivian Rice, Samuel Demascio and Ayden Timberlake read their D.A.R.E. essays to the audience in Muskie Auditorium at Mountain Valley High School.

The fifth-graders also made creative license plates, with messages about D.A.R.E. Winning entries were made by Ariana Belskis, Jaden Boulanger, Celeste Dickey, Olivia Milligan and Jennava Jacavage.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net