The Buzz

As the year winds down and graduation caps begin to fly through cloud-covered skies, one is always ever so humbled to be attending the graduation ceremony of the senior class at North Reading High School. Held on Friday, June 7th, the 2024 ceremony featured several welcome speeches and a procession of students eager to move their tassel from one side to the other. The anticipation was felt in everyone from the audience of adoring family members and friends, to the NRHS staff, and finally, the sea of students themselves. 

The ceremony, as always, started with the steady procession of seniors down from the hilltop high school. Despite the class being smaller in size than normal this year, they took the opportunity to embrace themselves, their commitments to the school, and their strength as a tight knit community. Once seated, Principal Loprete stood to give his introductory speech, recognizing what profound leaders that the students before him had become, despite overcoming the initial challenge of joining high school during the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He describes the eloquence with which they took on the task to leave the school better, a parting which Loprete explained that he hoped, would allow them to expand their good efforts.

Superintendent Daly spoke next, equating the ceremony to ethereal events that have been demonstrated through the natural world this past year such as the solar eclipse, which had everyone stopping and settling for a moment to embrace the beautiful moment. He determined that he enjoyed, afterward, seeing pictures of NRHS students grouped together, wearing those tacky eclipse glasses, and staring speechlessly at the sky. Mr. Daly further implored the class to make a pact, to meet up again for the next one, scheduled for 2044, and see what accomplishments they have collectively achieved by then. Another universal event he spoke of was that rare glimpse at the northern lights which, he said, “You just had to be there” to see.

The clouds parted slightly, revealing a beam of sunlight directed at the field of students as the Honor Essayists took their position to speak. The first was Drew Mountain -heading to Northeastern University in the fall- who, through a speech imploring the inquisitive nature of our childhoods, highlighted the importance of always searching for answers and never being content with what is given. He ended off with a quote from the beloved childhood show, Curious George, to speak to that very message. The next Honor Essayist was Bhagy Bandara, also attending Northeastern University. Her speech leaned on the various strengths that she had witnessed throughout her class, harnessing the message through a quote from Mother Teresa, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”  The final Honor Essayist to speak was Isabelle Kim, who will be attending Tufts University in the fall. She spoke on the impact that various opportunities, people, classes, and more have had on her high school experience saying that she has much more to learn and explore, reminding her classmates that their journey is not yet complete and never will be. She took a remarkable moment to recognize the dedication of Mr. Ben Owens, Mr. Dan Muse, and other faculty members who have been essential to the running of the Band and Music program at North Reading and a vital part of her own school experience for several years.

The Class Essayist, Cassie Fitts, then took the stage to deliver a robust speech on perseverance and accepting both the climaxes and dips throughout one’s life. She called on quotes from Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, such as “Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” She promoted the conflict of good and bad and ended by maintaining that nothing is ever final in life. Cassie is bound for Boston University in the fall.  

The ceremony was filled with many wholesome moments and final gatherings, such as the seniors of NOTEtorious each taking a solo to the song “Dance the Night Away” by Dua Lipa, as is tradition. Or the seniors of the Band coming together with the underclassmen one last time to play “Choose Joy”, an exceptional favorite of the year. And then came the moment when Assistant Principal Alonzo approached the stage, reminding the students that it was absolutely crucial to allow their families to make a big deal out of the occasion.

By this point in the ceremony, the Sun trimmed the edges of the clouds above in a manner that it appeared the light illuminated the puffs of cloud themselves. A gorgeous background to which 130 North Reading Seniors ended their school careers, each accepting a diploma, stopping for a picture, and shaking hands with both Mr. Loprete and Mr. Daly before exiting center stage. However the moment was not quiet or merely solemn by any measure, the families, friends, teammates, classmates, teachers, and more watching one made a big show of congratulating the new graduates. With each name called, cheers erupted from the bleachers. The seniors themselves joined in, clapping even as they awaited their own impending graduation. Rousing applause followed the final senior to graduate and then a muffled chant of “Seniors!” rose through the class. Watching on, one can’t help but feel the essential strength of comradery that this small but mighty class has formed amongst each other.

The final speeches of the day were given by the class officers: Kristen Galvin (the president), Keely Hannon (vice president), Bella Fischer (secretary), and Julia DeAngelis (treasurer). They emphasized that they wanted their class gift to be something cherished by the school now, as well as something used to help further education of the youth of North Reading. As such, they announced that the Class of 2024 was gifting the high school a customized tent for use in outdoor activities that the school holds, and distributing the rest of the funds to the elementary schools and middle school. The extra funds, they explained, would contribute to the extracurricular interests of the students of North Reading, parting gifts that they hoped would facilitate an impact for generations of students to come.

At last, the anticipation settled, and each of the graduates removed their caps. They flew in the air briefly and eagerly, music flourished courtesy of the Band, and the audience flooded into the field to hug their new graduates. Although the ceremony itself had closed, the aftermath was neverending as people rushed through the vastness of green capes and cameras flashing. The words “Congratulations” and “You did it!” were thrown out everywhere as people came together to mark the occasion with millions of impromptu photoshoots. However, there was a crucial bittersweetness to the event, as tears dripped down faces and friends promised each other that they would keep in touch afterwards. 

By the end of evening, the Sun had set, the chairs had been cleared, and cars rushed to further the graduation celebration elsewhere. And though the field will be wiped of glitter from graduation caps and flower petals from celebratory bouquets, the moment will never truly be forgotten. A heartfelt congratulations to the graduating Class of 2024, and thank you, from all of us.