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By Lisa Moore
Wellesley High School’s Class of 2016 commencement ceremony was held on Friday. Rainy weather threatened early in the day, but relented, allowing graduation to take place on the athletic field. Family and friends filled the bleachers and seating area on the track. The WHS combined chorus entertained the crowd as they waited for the ceremony to begin. When the Wellesley High School Band began the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” the senior class, in red caps and gowns, led by their class officers, walked onto the field to take their seats in their last rite of passage at WHS.
Class Vice President Emily Zeytoonjian welcomed all in attendance, thanked the administrators and teachers for “preparing us academically and molding us into thinkers,” and recognized the WHS custodial staff for its outstanding efforts in preparation for the outdoor ceremony. Zeytoonjian presented the class gift, 15 multipurpose tables, and encouraged her classmates to “face future obstacles head on using the tools learned at WHS.”
Joanna Wu, the senior class speaker, compared what she learned in an Economy Class about Production Possibilities Curves to demonstrate the power of investing in others happiness. “Thinking of others happiness helps prepare you for your own happiness.” She said, as she recalled how rewarding it was for her to go and support her friends and classmates at the many events through the years and how thinking of their happiness had given her joy. She urged her classmates to leave behind schadenfreude, happiness gained by others misfortune, and replace it with mudita, happiness gained by the joys others feel.
Edward Sevilla, Class President, and Valedictorian gave the honor address. He spoke about how many of the greatest life lessons he has learned come from childhood experiences. He talked about going to camp as a child, and learning about the fallibility of authority. He recalled how a camp counselor, while trying to teach about trust with a “trust fall” activity, asserted that the campers could trust each other just as he would trust them to catch him. The campers dropped the counselor, making Sevilla realize, “role models are more vulnerable than we perceive them to be.” He referred to the now famous “You’re not special” commencement speech given in 2012 by High school English teacher David McCullough who told the then-graduating class that they were not special, saying “With all due respect, neither is he, and neither am I, and neither is any speech giver speaking to you today.” Speaking of the power and vulnerability of authority, Sevilla said, “If you embrace that legitimacy rests upon shaky human foundations, you will never be unqualified for your dreams, you will never be incapable of success. Class of 2016, the legitimacy and authority of the world rests in your strong yet shaky human hands. Just don’t drop it.”
Principal Jamie Chisum addressed the class, acknowledging the “unforgiving climate in which we exist” and suggesting that “in order to be creators of goodness in the world, we all need to forgive. As a culture we all need to be capable of compassion of others mistakes. In all of you I see hope in your ability to offer solutions not just criticism. Go forward and be merciful.”
The faculty message, delivered by Craig E. Brown, encouraged students to be prepared for the unpredictable future. “Recognize as something new the unpredictable, and the opportunities presented by unpredictable events. Nobody will always know what to do, stay curious, gather experience, and always learn from it.”
Superintendent Dr. David Lussier reflected on the past four years saying “Much has happened in our community and nation, many not positive, yet despite so much uncertainty you have engaged in countless selfless acts to support the community and each other.” He told the class that they were “not just good students but good people, giving me hope for the future.”
After the speeches were done, Principal Chisum and the class officers presented the diplomas to the nearly 400 graduating seniors and presented the teacher of the year award to Mrs. Louisa Morrison WHS science teacher, who earned praise from administrators, students, and parents. Dr. Chisum spoke of her teaching excellence as “emblematic of the great work being done by all our teachers throughout the year.”
The final presentation made by Principal Chisum was the presentation of the senior cups, a tradition started in 1946, that honors two seniors - a male and female - selected by their peers. The selections are based on character, school citizenship, scholarship, and activities. This year’s recipients were Nicole Frontero who was described by her peers as “earnest, humble and resilient, respected and respectful of her peers, and a bright positive spirit.” The male winner was class President Teddy Sevilla who was described by his peers as “outgoing, creative, compassionate, inquisitive, and altruistic.”
Ending the ceremony, Sevilla instructed his classmates to move their tassels from the right side of the mortarboard to the left, and declaring the class of 2016 as official graduates. As the WHS band played “Flying Colors,” the class of 2016 tossed their graduation caps in the air in celebration of their last official rite of passage at Wellesley High School. Congratulations to the class of 2016!
