Seniors reflective as CHS graduates Class of 13

Canton High School’s Class of 2013 celebrates at the conclusion of Friday night’s commencement ceremony. (Mike Barucci photo)

The rains came fast and furious, but the mood indoors was one of pomp and circumstance and the tears were filled with joy as the 220 members of the Canton High School Class of 2013 celebrated the ultimate rite of passage in a touching and heartfelt commencement ceremony in the CHS Morse Auditorium.

Friday’s graduation was the fourth in a row at Canton High to be held indoors; however, the gloomy, wet weather proved mostly an afterthought on an evening in which the graduates felt the full significance of Principal Derek Folan’s now familiar slogan of “Be one and move forward.”

For Folan, this was a class worthy of its accolades, a “tremendous” group of young adults that “achieved greatness with such humility and grace.”

“Canton High School is the heart of this prideful community, and you are the heartbeat of this school,” he told the graduates. “Your amazing accomplishments through the years have exceeded our expectations.”

Recounting the year’s tragedies and triumphs — from the Newtown school shootings and the marathon bombings to the Bulldogs’ historic victory over Stoughton on Thanksgiving Day and the filming of the CHS lip dub video — Folan urged the graduates to always remember one fact: “You are Canton.”

“When you hold the door for someone, and then they hold it for someone else,” he said. “When you don’t give up. When you say ‘thank you’ to every chaperone as you leave the prom. When you are inspired to be part of 3,300 Boston Strong t-shirts sold and a $27,000 donation to the One Fund. When you endure the marathon experience firsthand, and you develop a community ‘Last Mile’ event. When the boys’ hockey team talks to me for the first time, it is not about their team or their season, it was about hosting a game to bring awareness to breast cancer.

“You are Canton,” he said.

The themes of unity and collective pride also surfaced in the student speeches, as class salutatorian Rosa Bonilla reminded her classmates to congratulate one another because they “did this together,” while valedictorian Michaela Mellen celebrated their “vibrant, multi-faceted class” whose differences were “some of the key components in bringing us together.”

Rosa Bonilla

Bonilla also noted how, in high school, it is easy to complain — about teachers, about homework, sports, weather, or cafeteria food.

“And now we’ve spent the past few weeks realizing just how much we’ve had to be grateful for,” she said. “The bonds we’ve created with teachers and other faculty members, the lessons that extend so far outside the classroom, and the time we spent together as a class.”

Bonilla urged the graduates to “take a moment to recognize the people who have always been there to help you when you needed it most.”

“When this is over, thank them,” she said. “We are the ones who will receive the diploma today, but none of us got here on our own. Give others the recognition they deserve, be grateful for what they have done for you, and be proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Mellen also recognized the need to thank those who helped them reach this milestone, yet she reminded her classmates that “we are our own greatest mentors.”

“We should reflect upon the things we have taught ourselves through trial and error,” she said. “As we prepare ourselves to embark on our separate paths, now, more than ever, is the time for self-discovery, to uncover what truly sets us apart from one another. The things we’ve learned throughout high school are only our foundation, preparing us for the lessons we will all undoubtedly learn ahead.”

Mellen said she stayed away from “neatly packaged, all-encompassing words of wisdom” since the same words “carry different meaning and significance depending on the listener.”

“Any advice I can offer would likely be superficial and barely scratch the surface of what each of us wants to, and needs to, hear,” she said.

Much like Bonilla’s speech after her, Class President Aimee Pina’s remarks were a mix of nostalgia, pride, and gratitude for all of those who supported them along the way.

“We had to trust that things would eventually fall into place, and today it finally feels like they have,” she said. “The obstacles we have faced have led us to success, and through that insight we have seen that even when times are tough, they can’t last forever.”

Canton High, according to Pina, will “always remain in our memories.”

“Whether we realized it then or we are realizing it now,” she said, “we must cherish the unforgettable moments because eventually they have to come to an end. Today is a day in which we take a moment to stop and appreciate all our success and our triumph over adversity.”

In addition to the student speakers, the commencement also featured remarks by school and community leaders, including Superintendent Jeff Granatino, School Committee Chairman Cindy Thomas, and Board of Selectmen Chairman Sal Salvatori.

Superintendent Granatino congratulates Brendan MacDonald, who is headed to the U.S. Military Academy.

Granatino quoted the late Senator James William Fulbright and urged the graduates to “think unthinkable thoughts.”

He deemed them “ready to take on the complex and rapidly changing world before them,” citing their impressive achievements and their dedicated service to the community.

“I’m not worried about this eclectic group of individuals living up to Senator Fulbright’s message,” Granatino said. “I know they will continue to think unthinkable thoughts … Their futures are bright, their optimism is contagious, and their compassion for those around them is amazing to see.”

Salvatori built his message around the theme of hope and challenged the graduates to work hard, be courageous, take risks, and never give up.

“There is always hope,” he said. “You can make decisions to change things … You can be who you want to be. You can decide how you want to project yourselves and how you want to be perceived.”

In addition to the speeches, the commencement featured performances by the CHS chorus, which sang “Omnia Sol” by Z. Randall Stroope under the direction of Sarah Collmer, and the CHS band, which played “Sheltering Sky” by John Mackey under the direction of Brian Thomas. The ceremony also included the fifth annual presentation of the Paul Matthews Senior Cup, which went to seniors Justin Rudy and Lauren Berman.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Jun 13 2013. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.