Jackson Memorial seniors say farewell

More than 400 students did not flinch as rain poured down during their graduation ceremony at Jackson Memorial High School.

Jackson Memorial High School's newest graduates (above) celebrate their achievement. At left, students perform during the June 24 event at the high school. Fortunately, administrators from the Jackson School District made the call to hold the 6 p.m. June 24 ceremonies in the high school's Fine Arts Center even though the sun was shining outside.

And as Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" rang out and students walked down the auditorium aisle, so, too, did the rain outside begin to pour down once more.

Inside the ceremony went on as Student Council President Ryan Blake led the Pledge of Allegiance and the senior choir sang "The Star- Spangled Banner."

"Well, we made it, and what an amazing journey it has been, Senior Class President Marisa Matyola said in welcoming the graduates and guests. "Remember our very first day of school: we were all so excited and nervous to be going to our first day of kindergarten, while our parents stood by and took pictures, just like they are doing today."

She said as high school seniors they all have their own ambitions and their own dreams to pursue, but she said they will always be the class of 2009 from Jackson Memorial High School.

Jackson Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella shared his thoughts with the class of 2009.

"Graduation day is always something special," said Gialanella. "It is a chance to recognizewhat you have done, but also the life that awaits you. I want you to not be afraid to act, to decide, to engage and to control your futures. And as you take on your new challenges, I also want you to realize that even the most confident grown-ups can be known to pause every now and then to realize the magnitude of what is in front of them."

Assistant Principal Carl Perino introduced the class salutatorian, Stephen Montgomery, who will attend Rowan University as a major in chemical engineering.

Montgomery said that four years ago, as freshmen, the students all fell into a bucket that they all now know as Jackson Memorial High School.

"We found ourselves struggling through all the homework and projects that threatened to drown us," he said. As sophomores, he said, the students became a little more comfortable, still had few thoughts of the future, and were still among the younger kids in the bucket, but they were not freshmen anymore, so things were looking good.

The hard work began to pay off in the third year, he said.

"We were passing our classes, propelling ourselves toward graduation, and our future," said Montgomery. "We were busy considering what we would do after we got out of the bucket, whether we would leave for college, the military, or to find a job."

This past year, the students finished off all of their required classes, he said, and maybe even a few fun electives, took their finals, went to the prom and made it to graduation.

Today, he said, the students stand ready to dive into a new bucket: college, the military, and the work force, with the knowledge that they need in order to succeed wherever they go.

Principal Anthony Gaita introduced valedictorian Shannon Watt, who will be attending Harvard University to study science and engineering.

In her address, Watt said it has been four years, eight semesters, 720 days, 2,880 class periods and 2,592,000 minutes of high school, and that does not include the numerous hours spent participating in clubs and sports, working on homework, or studying for exams.

Watt said that when she sat down to write her speech, she realized three things. First, she will never be an English major. Second, there are no inspirational speeches that are even remotely interesting, and third, that if she was going to give an interesting speech, she would have to do a lot of research, so she said, "I went to everyone's favorite research site … YouTube."

"One thing I have learned from my extensive research is that a typical valedictorian speech has three parts: the thank yous, reflections, and the ever-popular inspirational message," Watt said. "First, the thank yous."

Watt took out a long scroll of paper and unwound it.

"Mom, thank you. Dad, thank you. My sister, Kira, thank you. My dog, Coco, thank you. Mr. Gaita, thank you. Mr. Perino, thank you. Ms. Callahan, thank you. And that guy at Wawa who makes delicious sandwiches, thank you."

On a serious note, she said, the students must thank their teachers.

"They get paid way too little for all they do every day, and let's face it, that's not an easy job to do," Watt said. "They deal with all of us."

She said she wanted to end her speech on a serious note.

"Several years back my uncle gave me a poster with a quote on it," she said. "I have lived by that quote for the past four years, and I would like to share it with you today. The quote goes like this, 'Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible.'"

Diplomas were then distributed.

Gaita then gave the pronouncement of graduation, and 400 caps began flying through the air.