New Paltz High School: Resilience and friendship got them through it

Graduating high school in a ceremony that isn’t on the high school grounds can be a bit of a letdown, but members of the New Paltz Class of 2024 mostly didn’t let the concern over rain dampen their spirits when they walked the stage on June 26. The fifth class to graduate since a pandemic lockdown rocked the world, these students came out of that historic disruption — which hit when they were in middle school — and seem to have become a closer-knit cohort as a result. 

“We didn’t graduate eighth grade,” said Dylan McQuade-Dolan, but the salutatorian was able to list many other activities that they had shared together. The metaphor that McQuade-Dolan used to describe these students was that of turtles — not for their speed, but their need to stick out their necks and take risks to move forward at all. “We acted like turtles, and took risks.” Setbacks abounded at times, McQuade-Dolan said, but were faced with courage that “strengthened friendship.” 

Valedictorian Mason Eyler’s counterpoint was to draw on experience as a member of the track team, and lessons learned about pushing forward. “When your pace slows,” Eyler said, redoubling that effort for even a short burst can make an important difference. “The surge resets the level of perceived effort,” allowing the runner to continue at a faster rate. Even if one is at the back of the pack, Eyler exhorted classmates to “keep walking, choose a direction and consider speeding up.” 

Technology teacher Alexis Mallory reminded students that pivoting to a new direction is always an option, having come to teaching as a third career 18 years ago. Life is “not always a straight path,” but one that is comprised of new iterations. Mallory advised the graduates to “live in a fluid existence.” 

Stephen Gratto, the district’s superintendent, took a moment to take a selfie with the graduating class before pronouncing them free to toss their hats and hug friends and family members. 

In the aftermath, senior Melanie Knissen said, “It doesn’t feel real” to be a high school graduate, and expressed some regret at the change of venue. Raindrops were just starting to plop down as families headed out from the athletic center on campus to the next stops on their celebratory journeys. 

Margaret DiDonna waxed nostalgic about the challenges these students faced, saying that it was a “long road,” but adding, “I’m glad that this is the class I got to graduate with.” 

Teachers say goodbye to students every year, after watching them develop in ways that the students themselves might not yet understand. English teacher Joe Neden gushed about the amount of talent contained in this class, saying that “the best is yet to come” for these young adults. 

Albert Cook, a social studies teacher, praised this “unique group” of students for how they stood together under pressure, calling them “the most resilient and determined class” to recently pass this way. 

It may take some time to discover what these and other coronials do to change the world, but as June turns to July of 2024, hopes and expectations are high.