JACKSON – It was a time for reflection on the past while looking forward to what comes next – graduates picked up their diplomas and tossed their graduation caps into the air at the school district’s two high schools.
Jackson Memorial High School Principal Kevin DiEugenio noted during the commencement that “the Class of 2023 will be remembered as one of the brightest, most motivated, and focused classes in our 57-year history. The list of top-tier universities is proof of their hard work and dedication to excellence.”
“I also applaud the courage and commitment of those Jaguars entering the military. It is my sincere hope that this class continues to stay motivated and make a positive impact on society. I am confident that they will,” he added.
Jackson Liberty Principal Geoffrey Brignola remarked, “We could not be more proud of the class of 2023. Having to start their high school careers with a pandemic, which carried into their sophomore years was something new and hard for everyone.”
“Throw on top of starting a new school, and it would have been easy for them to throw in the proverbial towel and give up, but they didn’t. They were resilient and they persevered to accomplish truly outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, arts, humanities, and community service, and they made us all proud along the way. We want to wish them all the best in all of their future endeavors.”
JMHS Valedictorian Evan Walsh said “I’ve found myself reciting the words, ‘Thank You’ over and over again. Now that this whole experience is slowly coming to an end, I’ve realized how thankful I am for all the people who have made my success possible.”
Walsh said, “there was never a moment in my high school career where I felt like I didn’t have anyone to reach out to, and I’m beyond grateful for that. I love you guys too. The most important ‘thank you’ that goes unsaid too often is a thank you to my family.”
The valedictorian noted, “Class of 2023. Has it settled in yet? I’m not sure I’m ready to accept the fact that high school is over yet, either, and like I said before, it really went fast – I’m sure our parents would agree. Above all else, take care of, and love yourself, and remember that you are worth every breath you take in life.”
JMHS Salutatorian Evelyn Wachowski said, “we, the class of 2023, have finally made it. As we each walk across the stage today, we will be putting an end to our high school careers. Though many of us are excited for the next chapter in our lives, I encourage you not to gloss over the past four years, as we have made some great memories together.”
“We have been there for each other since the first day of freshman year where we all walked in unsure of what high school would hold. Whether your next chapter includes college, trade school, the military, or straight into the workforce, the phrase stands true, once a Jag always a Jag,” she added.
Sophia Tongko, this year’s valedictorian at JLHS, began her speech by recounting a pivotal moment from her childhood. “I have a mole above my right eyebrow. When I was younger, I was very insecure about this mole and would obsess over it incessantly. I thought of it as a flaw, a blemish, an imperfection. One day I was particularly fixated on it, my eyes glued to my own reflection.”
“Noticing me poking and prodding at my face, my grandma told me that my mole was an indication that I would be very successful in my future, and that I should consider myself lucky to have been marked by such fortune. In hindsight, she was most likely just growing irritated by my whining and trying to quiet me,” Tongko said.
She added that her grandmother, “taught me an invaluable lesson about perspective. She showed me that something that initially seems unpleasant can be interpreted instead as a blessing. I realized that day that I could simply look at a cloudy day from a different angle and find the silver lining.”
“This doesn’t have to be an end. This doesn’t have to be heartbreak. We can come out on the other side as superior and more resilient human beings if we simply understand that this road is not an imperfection, it’s not a blemish, it’s not a flaw. With a change in perspective, our future can be fortunate,” she added.
JLHS Salutatorian John Dunzelman remarked during his speech that “one thing that I have personally learned from these years at Liberty is that sometimes, time can feel a little funny. Some of the people in our class I have known since kindergarten, while others might have joined us just in the past few years.”
“It feels like just yesterday we were all preparing for our first days of high school, worrying about our schedules or where we would sit in the cafeteria,” he added.
The Salutatorian added, “while we experienced everything high school had to offer, it felt like it would all last forever, but now it feels like time passed in the blink of an eye. Congratulations to our class of 2023, and, just as the time has flown, I am sure we will all fly too.”
