Schools

Graduates Speak: Commencement "Brings Out the Best"

Here's what some of Ward Melville's newest alumni had to say on Sunday.

It's safe to say pretty much everyone at Sunday's commencement ceremony felt some degree of warmth. And some of the graduates themselves had some pretty warm things to say after they turned their tassles and tossed their caps.

Murali Varadaraj, who is headed to the University of Virginia in the fall, said graduation "brings out the best in everyone."

"Everyone's enjoying themselves and that's the best part. Everyone's smiling," he said.

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"I think everyone is going to do really well in the future," said Jamie Meyers, who is headed to Suffolk Community College to study journalism. "It's just really weird saying goodbye to everyone I've known for the past 12 years."

"Today it's definitely a surreal feeling. I feel proud and happy and sad all at the same time," said Nick Gallozzi, who will head to Liberty University in the fall to study acting. "I'm going to miss the school a lot."

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Leigha Jarett, the Binghamton-bound yearbook editor in chief, said: "I'm a little sad to leave a lot of my teachers and friends behind. I'll definitely be back to visit."

Hofstra University-bound Adam Jones had a long list of people to thank – including teachers in the math, science, and history departments – saying, "I'm going to miss a lot of my teachers. They shaped the person I am today."

Emily Cribbins, who is headed to Syracuse University to study acting, said the impact of graduation hadn't fully hit her yet. "I'm going to miss the whole family unit I had here," she said.

Madison Cona echoed her sentiment. "This is not real. It's not happening," said Cona, who is headed to St. Joseph's College to study math. "I'm really said because I want to be a 'Toys R' Us kid' forever. But hopefully I'll be back here to teach. It's my dream."

In her graduation speech, student government president Ashley Gabriele cited "YOLO" – a reference to rapper Drake's "you only live once" anthem – saying, "on graduation day, we take it back to its original meaning ... it may be the most valuable thing Ward Melville taught us during our senior year."


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