By Jennifer Bradly, Packet Media Group
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — It was a night to celebrate.
The Performing Arts Center held a full house of family, friends, teachers and administrators united to celebrate the commencement of Bordentown Regional High School’s Class of 2012.
”I appreciate all of the different things that went into creating the person that I am today,” said salutatorian Nicole Sheppard, who started off the speeches of the evening. “From pep rallies to prom. From research papers to tests. From not knowing many people on my first day, to wobbling together as seniors. I appreciate how these things have shaped who I am.”
The speeches of the evening were broken up with musical selections by the BRHS symphony orchestra and choir.
After the symphony orchestra performed “Into the Storm,” Melanie Hazlett was named valedictorian and proceeded to share her words of wisdom and humor with the class of 2012.
”I realize I am one of the last things standing between you and your diploma,” Melanie said.
”So just sit tight because I have just a few select words that I would like to share with you,” she said as she jokingly rolled out a long scroll of paper that elicited laughter from the audience.
In her speech, Melanie highlighted many of the outstanding memories and characteristics of the class of 2012 like being the first graduating class to have a full year of athletics played on the new turf field and having prom on the Spirit of Philadelphia.
”Together our class has completely changed the face of the school,” she said.
Melanie concluded her speech by thanking everyone who helped her develop as an individual such as her parents, teachers and friends. She also made sure to thank the singer Taylor Swift.
”Thank you Taylor Swift for your song lyrics that have helped me through late nights studying AP biology,” she said. “I probably wouldn’t have passed if you hadn’t released your Speak Now album last fall.”
After the audience finished laughing and clapping for Melanie, superintendent Constance Bauer took the stage and supplied the graduates with helpful insight.
”I wish you courage to fight complacency,” she said.
Ms. Bauer also encouraged the graduates to take time and think about themselves and others rather than defining themselves by the tweet of the day.
BRHS principal Patrick Lynch also offered three suggestions for the class of 2012 that revolved around choosing a career and achieving happiness.
”First, seek a career as opposed to just having a job,” he said. “Find something that you’re so passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work. Some of you may know that most days I am at my desk before 5:30 a.m. not because I have to be, but because I can’t wait to get to work everyday.”
His second piece of advice was that life is more than one’s job, and his third tip was to think about how to give back to others.
As the speakers wished the graduates luck in their future endeavors, Board of Education member Kimberly Zablow also reminded the class of 2012 that graduation is not only an end.
”Remember this is not the end of the road, but instead it’s the beginning of a new journey,” said Ms. Zablow, who is also a parent of one of the graduates. “As one door closes, another will open.”
