Manville High School sends off 82 graduates
By Mary Ellen Day, Special to the News
Speakers emphasized the importance of community at the graduation ceremony for 82 students who became the 56th graduating class of Manville High School on Thursday, June 20, in the school courtyard.
”You all taught me that no matter how hard I work or how much success comes my way, it doesn’t mean much unless I have a community to share it with,” Lauren Nash, the class valedictorian, told a standing-room-only audience.
The theme was repeated by Borough Councilman and local business owner Ed Komoroski, the guest speaker at his alma mater. Whatever difficulties or opportunities lie ahead, he said, need not be faced alone.
”I don’t think that there is one person out there who has done anything that was just by themselves, for themselves,” he said. “Your actions will always reflect on others. Be grateful for the things and people you have in your life, and they will be grateful for you being in theirs.”
Class President Alexandria Puza welcomed the audience.
”After four long years, we can finally say that we did it we graduated high school and are now moving on to the next chapter in our lives,” he said. “Seniors, my friends, we left our mark on Manville High School, and it will never be the same once we step out those doors today.”
Kathleen Serafino, the executive county superintendent of schools, congratulated the graduates.
”You have worked very hard to achieve what you are representing here tonight,” she said.
Mr. Komoroski told the students the world of possibilities was opening to them.
”I was in your shoes 35 years ago,” Mr. Komoroski said. “Your boundaries are endless over the next few years. You will be in colleges or employed all over the state and country. You may stay locally, work from home, start your own business or maybe even work for an overseas employer. Maybe you’ll work for a company or a business that has not yet been developed. You are the future of the world. The world is forming and changing to meet the needs of your generation. We never know what tomorrow can bring.
”Remember that you should learn from your past, but you can’t change it. You can plan your future but don’t always count on it. Sometimes it’s like the weather it will change on a daily basis. Life may give us a soft spot; we get weak at the knees and fall. When that happens, take few steps back and look for that silver lining. You can’t have a rainbow without some rain,” he said.
Salutatorian Justyna Pupek reminisced about the high school years.
Justyna told the graduates, “Our paths will never be as simple as this square (referring to the shape of high school building) that we have walked every day for four years. They will have many forks, introducing complications at each corner.
”But I’m not worried because we are prepared for those challenges,” she said. “We may not have a map as we embark on the route of our future, but we do have many tools a flashlight, matches and a compass. We have knowledge extended to us by our teachers. We have the wisdom learned through the wrong turns we took. We have the compassion we experienced working in our community. And most of all, we have the friendships we’ve built among our peers as we wandered through our high school wilderness. So take all you have, graduates of the Class of 2013, and begin drawing the map of your future.”
For some, graduating was a dream becoming reality.
Valedictorian Nash said, “This all feels surreal, standing here giving a speech at our graduation. In some ways, I feel like we are still the same as we were as freshmen. These years passed by so quickly, but then I look around. I look at the new friendships that have been forged, lessons learned and struggles conquered. I’m proud to be a part of this class, which has grown together and shared so much success.”
Lauren thanked all the people who helped the graduates and thanked her classmates, too.
”I know it will still be there when we come back for reunions, and I hope you find it in other places, too,” she said. “As you go off to college, work or the military, I give you some important advice that you actually taught me, and I’ll borrow some from my father: Have fun; work hard; say no to drugs; and don’t forget to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
Diplomas were presented. After the alma mater was played, the graduates threw their mortarboards high in the air and left to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” music.