By: Kristine Snodgrass – The Packet Group
PRINCETON – In broiling heat and under threat of a thunderstorm, the 81st graduating class of Princeton High School took the traditional walk through the school’s tower doors and onto the front lawn for commencement on Wednesday evening.
The mercury soared into the 90s but no rain fell as the 354 members of the Class of 2010, including 84 from Cranbury, received their diplomas from members of the administration and the Princeton Regional Board of Education.
In the audience, hundreds of family members and friends cheered on the graduates. The most popular seats were those farthest away – in bleachers and chairs shaded by the trees.
The heat prompted some graduates to loosen or even shed their blue robes but spirits remained high throughout the ceremonies.
Following a salute to the flag and playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner," Class President Grace Rosen stepped to the stage to welcome the crowd. She reflected on the graduating seniors’ motto, "No regrets," admitting that she actually did have some regrets of her own.
Among them include not playing in the band, not participating in mock trial, not taking AP chemistry, and not taking the school’s writing workshop.
"I regret the 15 people in this class who could have been my best friend if I’d taken the time to meet them," she said.
But these regrets are actually a testament to the many opportunities at PHS, forcing its students to choose between a myriad of classes, clubs and activities, she said.
"If we didn’t have regrets like these, then that would be something to really regret," she said.
Following a performance by student a cappella group Around Eight, senior addresses were given by three students chosen by their classmates: Ajamu Kambon, Vincent Xu and Henry Gomory. They spoke on the topics of spirit, achievement and future.
Ajamu asked the class to have a moment of silence to reflect on their high school years, before delivering an energetic speech on the abundance of spirit in the hallways of PHS.
He reflected on the many ways students show their PHS pride, including owning countless articles of logo clothing, making posters, painting their faces for events, and supporting sports teams, including taking fan buses to see the boys soccer team take the state title last fall.
"Spirit was everflowing, man, everflowing," he said.
He encouraged his classmates to create an "optimistic, passionate and loving community" in their future lives, where "Yes, we can" becomes more than just a popular motto.
Vincent began his speech with the line, "It was all a dream," a lyric from the song "Juicy" by rapper Notorious B.I.G. In the song, the rapper talks about how he attained success despite his difficult upbringing.
"Unlike the Notorious B.I.G., our entitled upbringing will hopefully spring us into a fulfilling future," he said.
He advised his classmates to focus on the pursuit of happiness in their future, not just financial rewards, as he sees a lot of "discontent" in the adult world.
"I call this perspective, while my dad calls it naive," he said.
Henry said that in preparing his speech, he thought he was expected to somehow collect all of his experiences, from meeting the girls from Cranbury as a freshman to "college madness" during senior year.
In the process he realized how much he had changed, and how if his freshman-self met the person he’d become over the past four years, they’d be far from the same person, he said.
When he was a junior, he took on too many assignments and activities, leaving him feeling trapped and overwhelmed. It taught him a lesson that seems obvious, but is easy to forget sometimes.
"It’s extremely important to make sure you’re happy, and to not be afraid to ask yourself if you’re happy," he said.
He quickly added that his advice doesn’t mean to avoid hard work, because what will make you the most happy in the long run isn’t always what makes you happy in the moment.
"I really only wish to encourage you to question how you live, to make sure you’re living in the best way you can," he said.
Another a cappella performance followed, this time by student group Cat’s Meow, before Mr. Snyder presented the members of the graduating class, who he said exemplify the school’s motto of "Learn to live and live to learn."
"The greatness of this class cannot be overstated or quantified in a magazine," he said, referring to the mention of PHS in a ranking of top high schools in the nation by U.S. News and other publications.
Superintendent Judy Wilson advised the families in the audience to share in the celebration with the graduates, not just try to capture it in a photograph. She admitted that she is a "relentless" photographer, always trying to capture moments in her own family.
"As I am always maneuvering for the best shot my husband is always sitting… he says capturing the moment in his heart," Ms. Wilson said.
For their lives up until this point, the graduates have mostly been looking at life through the lens of their parents’ eyes, she said.
"It’s now time to step back and see the world through their eyes," she advised the parents.
Turning to the graduates, Ms. Wilson advised them to remember as they ventured into their lives that success and happiness will not only depend on knowledge, but on the wisdom they attain.
"May the next stage of your life lead you to wisdom, so that joy will always be yours," she said.
