The Onteora High School Class of 2024 made the walk across the stage at graduation, and into the next stage of their lives on Wednesday, June 26. Their paths are diverse — some will pursue higher education, some will attend vocational and trade schools and others are going straight into the workforce. Their experiences will diverge into a million directions as they venture beyond the four brick walls (and sometimes the Google meet screen) of high school.
The transition from childhood to adulthood has looked different in a post-Covid world. The class of 2024 is the first grade nationwide to never experience high school before Covid. Their path was fraught with the looming shadow of a global pandemic and the social and academic isolation of online learning. Eighty-six of them surmounted these hardships to walk onto the stage to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance directed by Erica Boyer from the Onteora chamber orchestra and friends.
Covid was a difficult time to be a young adult. Taking classes online while socially isolated made it tough for teens to thrive. However, that has not stopped the Onteora Class of 2024 from pursuing their dreams. A brilliant and incredibly accomplished group of teens, many of their first forays into the future will be at schools like Princeton, Brown, Wesleyan and Dartmouth. And their excellence does not just stop at academics. They are thoughtful and compassionate, pursuing projects like creating an outdoor classroom and lifting one another up on stage with special handshakes given to each other as their names were called.
It’s not an easy feat to walk into the world alone, but each graduate will now forge their own path. Their courage will take them far. Whether it’s their senior prank — where many seniors snuck into principal Lance Edelman’s pool after hours one night — or even walking across the stage to graduate despite years spent detached from their peers and teachers in online learning — the Onteora Class of 2024 deserves a round of applause.
Principal Edelman gave a welcome address to kick off the commencement ceremony, thanking many members of the Onteora community before inviting salutatorian and class president Sophia Odato to the podium.
Odato has been the president of the class of 2024 every year since seventh grade. She praised her classmates for their creativity, like when they brought in baby cribs and luggage baskets during anything but a backpack day, and thanked the parents and relatives of all present for supporting fundraisers like Krispy Kreme and senior merch, which went towards the prom fund. Highlighting the deep curiosity and investigative nature of the senior class, she encouraged them to continue exploring the things which made them feel inquisitive or alive. “Moving forward, I feel so much excitement. But I also feel stressed and nervous and apprehensive,” said Odato. “I hope for all of us in this time of unknowns and risks and opportunities that we were able to find comfort in these moments. And I hope for the rest of our lives that we remember there will always be new granules of sand that deserve more thorough investigation.”
Odato then introduced valedictorian Virginia Potter. “I know everyone expects to hear the phrase, it feels like just yesterday at some point tonight. But I can’t be the only one who feels like it has truly been a long time coming,” said Potter. And for a class that prevailed through online learning and global crises, indeed it has. Potter encouraged her peers to seek kindness in the coming years, and thanked her friends, family and teachers for guiding her throughout high school and throughout life.
The class of 2024’s courage and brilliance easily translates into compassion. As Potter urged, “If there was one thing I feel the world could always use, it is kindness and compassion. Often the hardest times to have compassion are not the big moments where you must decide between resentment and forgiveness. But when you must choose between annoyance and graciousness.” Her quote reflects the character of the Onteora student body and the ability future classes — and generations — possess to enact positive change in the world. “That is not to say that we should be silent in the face of injustice. Instead, I think standing up for what you believe in can be an act of compassion for yourself and others,” explained Potter.
Honorary guest speaker Paul T. O’Neill, the Ulster County Commissioner of Jurors, then ascended the podium. He shared three things which have made his life easier and which he hoped might do the same for the graduating class. He began by focusing on his attempt to make life a little better for everyone, whether it be through simple kindnesses each day or a hand held out for someone in need. He followed up by explaining that whatever the students in front of him choose to do in life, it should matter to them, regardless of what their parents or friends think of it. “Make sure that it means something to you, and that you will leave each day having accomplished something valuable,” said O’Neill. Finally, he gave what he referred to as his “most important bit of advice.” No one can control what other people do or think or say about them, so the best thing to do is to stop trying to. Instead, focus on the future and picking yourself up no matter what happens.
O’Neill then congratulated the class of 2024 before superintendent of schools Victoria McLaren took the stage. McLaren extended her gratitude to the faculty, staff and administration and congratulated the class of 2024 on graduating. Principal Edelman then stepped up to the podium for the final time, guiding the students through the changing of their tassels from the right side of their caps to the left and identified the students as graduates! This was followed by the reading of the names of each graduating senior.
Though dark clouds began rolling in at the end of the ceremony, the rain held out. The storm didn’t fall until red caps had been tossed high into the air and hugs were given and photographs snapped. In a way, it was mother nature’s gift to the class of 2024, and her welcome to the rest of their lives. As Virgina Potter put it, ”At last we reached the beginning.”
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