By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
”Pomp and Circumstance” echoed throughout the Sun Bank Center in Trenton as the West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North orchestra played for the members of the Class of 2012 proudly filing in to receive their diplomas on Friday, June 15.
Friends, families and administrators filled the ascending rows of the stadium with support and excitement as they eagerly waited to snap pictures and cheer as each graduate received his or her diploma.
”Regardless of how you might feel about graduation, we should all be proud to be graduating with such a prestigious group of individuals,” said senior class co-president Ann Lee in her opening address.
Many of the speakers highlighted their memories of the class, such as the senior speaker, Vikram Kesavabhotla.
”We’ve been with each other through every new haircut, every new outfit, every new profile picture and now every new tweet,” he said.
Valedictorian Payal Marathe made sure to thank the teachers in her speech.
”When we look back on our time here five or 10 years from now, we will remember the teachers that inspired us, not that one bad test grade.”
Payal is the daughter of the Board of Education President Hemant Marathe, who also spoke about inspiration.
Mr. Marathe framed his speech around two tests, since he said the graduates would be used to taking tests by now. The first test he gave posed questions to the audience, asking things like the names of the last five governors of New Jersey, the names of Nobel Prize winners, and Miss America pageant winners.
Next Mr. Marathe asked for the names of teachers who inspired the graduates, the name of friends who have supported the graduates and the names of a few people who taught them something valuable.
Mr. Marathe said that those who could answer the questions on the first test belonged on “Jeopardy,” but the people asked about on the second test are just as important if not more important.
Mr. Marathe also said he was familiar with only 33 names of the people on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people, but that was unimportant.
”As you pursue your dreams and aspirations, resolve that you will be on someone’s list of most-influential persons in their life,” said Mr. Marathe. “Being on one person’s list of most-influential persons is reward enough.”
Superintendent Victoria Kniewel also spoke about the importance of support in the lives of the graduates by using the metaphor of a GPS.
”(A GPS) makes it easier to do something new and protects us from getting lost,” she said.
Ms. Kniewel then said it was now up to the graduates to do their own “infamous recalculating,” but the graduates’ metaphorical GPS will always comprise of family and friends.
”This system doesn’t connect to a satellite and it certainly cannot fit in your pocket, but it will help you think through all of the decisions you have to make to reach your decided destination,” she said.
Principal Michael Zapicchi emphasized the importance of being fearless, but also said it was important to consider oneself and others when making decisions.
”In the end, it’s not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life,” he said.
He also said it was important to pause and think before speaking and acting.
”There are two things you can’t take back in life: underwear and words once they have left your mouth,” he said. “As everyone is rushing around like a lunatic out there I dare you to do the opposite. Turn off your phone, put down Angry Birds and words with friends and take a moment.”
Mr. Zapicchi ended his speech with the advice he leaves with every graduating class.
”Work hard, play hard and dream big dreams,” he said.
