The Class of 2023 Leaves With a Song In Their Heart

Though this was my 15th Scarsdale High School Graduation, there is always something new to report from this tightly orchestrated event.

What stood out? This year was the first time I saw a class president break into song during his graduation speech and depart the stage by taking a selfie, the first time that Principal Ken Bonamo raised the question of what the advent of Artificial Intelligence will mean to future graduates, the first time I saw girls smoking cigars and the first time the Nicholas family, with their last of five children graduating, will no longer have one to cheer at the high school.

Ken Bonamo, Amber Yusuf and Drew Patrick

What remained the same? This year as always, the weather played a key role in the graduation. In the days leading up to the ceremony there was a good deal of uncertainty about where and when it would be held. With rain forecast for Thursday and Friday at all three of the possible times for graduation, the Superintendent finally made the call at noon on Wednesday, that the graduation, originally planned to be outside at Butler Field would be held in the SHS gymnasium on Thursday June 22 at 6:30 pm. That meant that each grad would only be allotted two tickets forcing siblings, grandparents and friends to watch the ceremony on live stream in the high school’s auditorium.

Student Government Leaders, Class of 2023

But for the 360 graduates of the SHS Class of 2023, last minute changes were nothing new. They had experienced the ups and downs of the pandemic for much of their high school careers. As a result, they had learned to be flexible and resilient. An indoor graduation, rather than a sunset ceremony, was just one more bump in the road.

On Thursday evening, after assembling for a final class photo in Gyms 1 and 2, the seniors lined up and strode into Scarsdale’s new gymnasium, led by their class advisors to the sound of the Scarsdale Band playing Pomp and Circumstance. It was a moving moment and brought tears to the eyes of many in the room.

Speaking for the Board of Education, President Amber Yusuf said, “We are so proud of each and every one of you, and just thrilled to celebrate you today. Over the past four years, you have worked hard and displayed incredible resilience, determination and focus, learning, experiencing and accomplishing so much both inside and outside of the classroom. You're now knowledge base and skills are strong, and you are ready for the many exciting and formative opportunities that await you.”

…. Your experience at Scarsdale has also emphasized the importance of being engaged citizens and living our school's motto of non sibi.. They've encouraged you to live lives of kindness and compassion, to embrace diversity and to help build welcoming and inclusive environments and to spend time talking to others with different perspectives and seek other experiences that widen your frame. They have shed light on the importance of personal wellness and well-being so that you may remember to take good care of yourselves, that you cultivate meaningful relationships that you find time to laugh, move, sleep and nurture your whole person, that you allow for mistakes and be patient with yourselves, that you always remain optimistic and filled with gratitude, and that you'd be happy, proud and authentically you. …Graduates the board is excited for your future and is confident that you will embrace it fully.”

Class Secretaries Hana Pitchon and Juliet Schneider introduced Class Advisors Kevin Viviano and Jen Wagner saying, “They've been more than advisors to us and have gone above and beyond to help us and the entire class of 2023 have the best high school experience possible. We cherish our time in homeroom planning events and working to make our school and community a better place. From standing outside in the freezing cold running toy drives to grilling at football games and spending countless hours working to produce our senior class to play on top of their responsibilities as teachers.” ….. They fought to restore class spirit after it was lost to COVID with our sophomore Movie Night, and even as recently as our senior Six Flags trip.”

01/23 

   

Advisors to the Class of ’23 Mr. Viviano and Ms. Wagner shared a secret saying, “We have a confession to make. We slumped worse numbers. While your senior slump may have started in January. Our senior slump started in September. We knew that we had to write this speech for today. And we continue to say that we would get it done as early as possible. But we procrastinated and wrote it yesterday. But like any good Scarsdale student, who waits until the very last minute hopefully, we have risen to the occasion.”

“… We have had the pleasure to guide and mentor over these past four years. As Professor advisors, we have witnessed your growth, dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence. From the moment you'd stepped foot on campus, we recognized your potential. We saw the sparks of brilliance in your eyes… And now, as you stand here on the cusp of a new chapter in your lives, we can say with certainty that you have exceeded our wildest expectations.”

“…But it's not just about the subjects you study. It's about the friendships you forged, the bonds you created, including the one with us, and the memories you will carry with you. As your advisors, we have witnessed your collective spirit, and how you uplift one another. It was not just your successes that defined you as a class. You could navigate adversity, you face setbacks, disappointments, and moments of doubt. Yet you rose above them stronger and more determined than ever.”

…Now, as you prepare for the next phase of your journey. Let us remind you that the world needs your unique talents, your passions and your drive. Each one of you has the power to shape the future, to make a difference in the lives of others, and to leave an indelible mark on this world. Be the exception. be inspiring. Be the person who doesn't judge. Be the person who makes someone smile. Be the person who finds humor in every day. Be the person who stands for what you believe to be the person that we know each one of you can be. Life will change you often in unexpected ways. Embrace the changes. meet the challenges with courage. Believe in yourself and your success. You have accomplished remarkable things and the future is yours to shape. We cannot wait to see the incredible heights that you will reach.”

“…May your journey be filled with purpose, joy, and endless possibilities. Your worst days will give lessons and your best days will get memories.”

“…Full disclosure. writing this speech was in a slump. We didn't really procrastinate. We realized that we kept delaying and denying the inevitable of having to say goodbye to you, knowing how difficult that would be for us. But we quickly understood that this is not really a goodbye. We will always be there cheering you on, ready to offer guidance and support whenever you may need it.”

Class Treasurers Anna Feldstein and Ali Schwartz thanked the administrators Dean's, counselors, custodians and aides. They said, “thank you for helping us navigate the unprecedented challenges and uncertainty of the pandemic. To our teachers. You have shaped our academic journeys not only through the knowledge you have imparted, but also through your kindness and compassion. So thank you for turning your classrooms into communities, smiling us in the hallway, and teaching us that we are worth more than our mistakes. Thank you to the entire custodial staff, and to all the aides who work tirelessly to make each day run smoothly to all of the administrative staff, the backbone of our school. And we all know that our high school experience wouldn't be the same without all of the deans and counselors who aid us in navigating the many pressures of school, family, friends, and of course college.’

Class Vice President Isabelle Goldban extolled the virtues of getting involved in student government, saying “without hesitation it was one of the best decisions I have made. Student Government has been one of the most memorable and meaningful parts of my high school experience.”

She encouraged her classmates to embrace new opportunities saying, “As I have learned, you never know how far a simple yes will take you.” By far the best part of Student Government has been the amazing people that I do it with.”

Class President Mihir Barlinge told his classsmates, “Don't fall asleep yet, Seniors, we've made it! Let's give ourselves another round.”

Tall and lanky, Barlinge explained, “As a freshmen I was awkward, goofy, maybe a little stinky. I mean, most of us were. But anyway, I didn't think that high school was going to be a good four years of my life. But it actually turned out being some of the best.”

He continued, “A wise man who also happens to be my best friend once said, I'd rather live a life with the pain of letting something good go than the regret of not having it in the first place. And I'm so glad that even though we technically only had one and a half real years of high school, we were able to make the most of it. It was things like singing in the hallways on Halloween and tailgating in the teachers’ lot. “

He recounted an unsuccessful attempt at gridlocking the stairways, when he “heard a small voice sing “Every time We Touch. He sang the lyrics and invited the whole class to join in singing,

'Cause every time we touch
I get this feeling
And every time we kiss
I swear I could fly
Can't you feel my heartbeat fast
I want this to last
Need you by my side”

He said, “We've been able to take mediocre situations and turn them into unforgettable moments throughout high school. This is how we live our lives with no regret…. after four years of finding ourselves and what makes us happy, we've created our own Maps to the Stars. And they look beautiful. So now as we move on to this new, unfamiliar part in our lives, let these maps serve as a guide. But never forget to keep coloring and drawing all over them. Because what lies ahead of us is unpredictable but absolutely thrilling.”

01/35 

   

SHS Principal Kenneth Bonamo took the stage for his last remarks to the Class of 2023.

…First, let me say how truly wonderful it is to be together on this occasion. It is good to see you here. Celebrating this moment filled with meaning as it represents both the accomplishment of having graduated and the commencement of your adult lives. Let us pause here for a moment to let it sink in and appreciate what this moment means.”

“….The vantage point of graduation allows you to appreciate the impact of your work, and developing your academic skills and fostering your growth as individuals. This accomplishment also represents the hard work you have put into getting here. Individually and collectively. You faced formidable and unprecedented challenges during your high school career. And you responded with tenacity and ingenuity. You have excelled in athletic and extracurricular activities, finding ways to maintain continuous engagement in the most difficult of circumstances.”

“The common thread between the start and end of your high school years has been the importance of personal relationships. Being an isolation for so long, with contact with all contact mediated through technology made us realize how important shared experiences are. And now, with artificial intelligence able to do increasingly complex tasks, the qualities that make us truly human will become ever more valuable. Compassion, curiosity, leadership, the ability to sense a need and set about trying to address or taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves. original, creative and critical thinking, setting worthy goals to achieve in your life, and creating your own assessment of your progress. Taking with the power of true human interaction, these human capacities are no match for AI. So make the most of your humanity, your independence, your ability to think and reason. Engage in academic tasks that will sharpen these skills and use the memory of isolation and the challenge of AI to remind yourselves that humans are meant to connect in order to thrive.”

“…I hope you use the elevated privilege of being engaged in study as your primary occupation, to search broadly and then deeply to find the subject that brings you the most intellectual satisfaction. Each class stands out for the way they navigated adolescence and their high school journeys, and your class is no exception. While we came to know each other, primarily through zoom meetings about weird class schedules, in time and the time we had been together in school, I have come to appreciate the overall tone of your class.”

“…I hope you will endeavor to make the world a better place. In order to make real change. And to bring about progress, you will need to add personal courage to what we have learned in school. When you take stock of the news of our day of domestic problems, international relations, income inequality, social justice, educational policy and environmental challenges. It should be clear that regardless of what side of any one question you take, in order to advance the cause, you will need courage.”

Hats Up!

“….Your success will be measured not by how much you take for yourself, but by how much you give of yourself. Finally, I urge you to build a legacy of love. The key to your success and taking advantage of the many opportunities and meaning the many challenges that lie ahead will be to infuse love into your work, your relationships, and your self regard. This evening you see your family and friends who demonstrated love and supporting you. You see your teachers and Dean's who loved being in the classroom with you and guiding you on the side. Most importantly, you should look at yourselves and love what you see an intelligent, curious, responsible person poised to continue learning in order to take on the challenges of life and society. I wish you all a wonderful graduation and health and happiness in the future.”

With that, Superintendent Drew Patrick came to the podium to certify the graduation and begin the presentation of diplomas to each member of the Class of 2023.

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