Teachers, families and friends gathered at the Sun National Bank Center on Friday afternoon to celebrate graduation for the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North Class of 2013.
By Payal Marathe, Special to the Packet
Teachers, families and friends gathered at the Sun National Bank Center on Friday afternoon to celebrate graduation for the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North Class of 2013.
They applauded and cheered as seniors entered the arena, then again when the graduates turned their tassels and threw their hats into the air.
Speakers at this year’s commencement told seniors to appreciate the support from their families and from each other, and to look to the future with excitement and optimism rather than fear and stress.
Rohit Tallapragada, senior class president, delivered welcoming remarks. He said he wanted to “freeze time” for a moment so members of the Class of 2013 could realize the great value in the foundation they built through their high school education.
Mr. Tallapragada issued one last executive order to his classmates — he asked them to pause, look around at the surrounding sea of blue robes and reflect on the positive influence North has had.
Other student speakers also discouraged impatience, taking a moment to say how proud they are to be members of the Class of 2013.
Valedictorian Daniel Liu said the people he has met at North are “some of the friendliest, most down-to-earth people you will ever meet.”
Mr. Liu said he wanted to dispel the notion that students of this generation are narcissistic. After all, students at North have always been dedicated to worthy causes and to school spirit, he said, adding he is confident his peers will go out into the world and continue their acts of kindness and charity.
Still, he underscored that graduates should feel no rush to finalize a career path or define their specific passions.
”For those of us who are a little more lost, know that it’s alright to not know what you want to do for the rest of your lives at the wise old age of 18,” Mr. Liu said. “I sure don’t.”
Principal Michael Zapicchi said it is likely even a good thing not to know precisely what the future has in store. Instead, graduates should use the “good start” they have had at North as a springboard to develop their personal definitions of success, he said.
Mr. Zapicchi added that life is “amazingly unpredictable,” and anyone who knows exactly what he wants to do over the next several decades or where she wants to end up “simply lacks imagination.”
All of the ceremony’s speakers congratulated the 402 members of the class of 2013, wishing them well as they make High School North a part of their past and look ahead to their bright futures.