SHS Class of ’08 ready to soar to new heights
Published on June 11th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Nearly 200 mortar board caps soared to the heights of Stoneham High School's gymnasium before a packed standing room only crowd during last Friday evening's graduation ceremony.
The Class of 2008 shrugged-off a day long downpour last Friday that forced the graduation ceremonies away from the high school's field areas and into the more cramped indoor space.
In fact, the seniors, who received their diplomas on a stage decorated with a three-dimensional Stoneham Spartan set on a rectangular board colored blue and white, appeared far more concerned with ending their high school careers with a proper remembrance than with the weather.
According to Class President Melissa Gregory, who gave the opening address, the Class of 2008 had forged a remarkable sense of unity over the past four years, budding from a group of virtual strangers to a band of young men and women with common ties.
“Look at the graduate next to you. You may have known that person for four or 14 years. They may not be a close friend, but they've been a close part of your life at some point,” said Gregory.
“Whether you can notice it or not, our class has grown on each other over the past four years,” the Class President furthered. “What matters now is all those different talents and personalities were able to come together and form the Class of 2008.”
Gregory, who urged her fellow graduates to savor the past four years and reflect on their high school life during the ceremony, also thanked the parents and other mentors who had supported the Class of 2008 classmates.
“Your job is not over. No matter what road we chose to walk on, you will be our support, and we will always look to you for your wisdom, advise, and guidance,” she said.
Honors Address speaker Meaghan Kelley also reflected on the intimate connections that had been made by the Class of 2008, but she also urged the graduates to look ahead.
According to Kelley, although the current generation has grown-up in an age of virtual and electronic connectivity, true and real differences were made through face-to-face, person-to-person contact.
“Our generation, our class, is faced with the daunting task of making a difference in the world. Though this challenge could be tacked with a slew of texts and instant messages or cell-phone exchanges, the deeper the connection we make, the greater the impact we'll create,” Kelley said.
“I'm not asking you to cut the cords of your I-Pods or throw away your phones, because I understand they're a necessity...The fact remains however, that we must stretch past the buttons of our keypads and touch the hearts of others.”
“Each one of us has an important skill or talent that if utilized correctly, can change the lives of one or many. But together, we can accomplish much more. We are a group that can reach-out and connect,” the Honors Address speaker added.
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