By Julia Beauregard
Hometown Weekly Editor
On the first day of June, Dover-Sherborn families gathered together on the Dover-Sherborn High School (DSHS) athletic field to watch as the high school seniors crossed the threshold into adulthood. Seniors gathered together in their royal blue caps and gowns and strutted down the field to the sound of the DS regional bands rendition of “Pomp & Circumstance.” The smiles upon the faces of the soon-to-be graduates shined as brightly as the sun overhead.
The ceremony began with the pledge of allegiance led by Vice Class President, Nicco Ban, which was followed up with the “Star Spangled Banner,” performed by the DS regional band. Members from the Dover and Sherborn Board of Selectmen, John Jeffries and Marian Neutra spoke their congratulations to the Class of 2023. “You’ve been through things like no other class before you,” Neutra stated, admiring their strengths and resilience due to Covid-19, “You are ready for whatever comes next.”
Class President, Benjamin Schroeder took the stage, delivering both a heartfelt and humorous speech, referencing some silly things that he had done as a child because a wise man had once told him: “if you don’t do stupid things when you’re young, you’ll have nothing to laugh about when you’re older,” a remark which received a chorus of chuckles from the attendees. He continued his speech by encouraging his fellow classmates to “be the best people we can be, always,” after everything they had learned through their experiences at DSHS, so they were able to live a life without any regrets.
Declamation finalist Suyasha Athuluri delivered a touching speech about her time at DSHS. She reflected on her fears moving to this new place at the start of her high school career; though she was grateful she ended up at DSHS because “the people I have met here and the experiences I’ve had have filled my once blank slate with so much color,” Athuluri went on to say that due to all of the experiences that she has had at DSHS among the company of her peers that they should not be scared to move forward to the next chapter of life because the next phase of life will be “filled with more colors and patterns than I ever thought possible… more beautiful and more breathtaking than they were before.”
A variety of musical performances took place throughout the evening, including a performance by Noteworthy, a DSHS a capella group, who performed “Ophelia” by The Lumineers, Al Coda, another a capella group, performed “I Lived,” by OneRepublic, and the DSHS Chorus performed “Somewhere Only We Know,” by Keane, with seniors standing at the forefront of the group, to carry out their final solos of their high school careers. The audience was entranced by each of these performances, cheering loudly to show their admiration of their talents.
John G. Smith, DSHS principal wished the seniors well on their future endeavors and shared with them all some final words: “With hard work and the belief that you will succeed, you will.”
With bright smiles and some teary eyes, the Class of 2023 walked across the stage to accept their diplomas and officially take their first steps into adulthood. After the final graduate walked across the stage, the seniors flipped the tassels on their caps before heading back to the field to throw their caps to the wind.
The sun set on the athletic field just as it had set on the high school careers of the Dover-Sherborn High School Class of 2023.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023.
