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By Cameron Small
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
It seemed like a normal June Sunday in Medfield. Clear blue skies, temperature in the low seventies, no humidity to make it unbearable to be outside. But this was not a normal Sunday in June for everyone. For the Medfield High School (MHS) Class of 2017, this past Sunday, June 4, was a day to celebrate as they graduated and joined the ranks of MHS Alumnae.
For the commencing seniors, the weather matched their moods. Happiness emanated out of them in their smiles as Class President William (Liam) Dewey encouraged them to go out and “do,” to be positive forces in the world.
Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Marsden referenced Liam and fellow senior Thomas Cadman tweeting at him asking why school wasn’t canceled yet during the winter snow, and what nearby towns had already canceled.
Honor Essayists Cameron Young and Lori Barney spoke about their experiences at MHS and the community the seniors would be leaving. As if it were cognizant of Barney’s speech about leaving the community, the weather started clouding over, leaving the clear blue skies for a gray overcast. By the time Senior Speaker Haley Wong finished speaking, the blue skies were nothing more than a memory, with the skies threatening impending rain.
Commencement is supposed to be a happy occasion, marking the culmination of the journey towards adulthood. It is a big step in any student’s life. Yet the changes in the weather marked the changes in attitudes of the seniors. What was happiness at the beginning of the day turned towards boredom as the latter half of the alphabet crossed the stage for their diplomas. What was excitement turned towards disbelief as the reality of graduation set in - the reality that these classmates, the majority of whom have been together for thirteen years, will not be seeing each other every day anymore.
Despite the realizations of graduation, most students described just feeling happiness after the ceremonies. Graduate Ze’ev Shames said “It’s kinda insane. It’s kinda hard to process that I’m already done with high school at this point. It’s surreal.” Shames plans on attending the University of Maine at Farmington to study Anthropology in the upcoming fall.
Graduate Lyndon Bohnert echoed Shames’ sentiments. “It’s unreal.” Luckily for Bohnert— who plans to attend the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to major in Emergency Management— a lot of his friends are staying in other Massachusetts schools, including Suffolk University, Babson College, Worcester State, and Fitchburg State, so lengthy goodbyes are still a ways off for him. Bohnert also plans on meeting up with fellow classmates at reunions in the future.
Happiness is not limited to the recent graduates, however. Joanne Beatty, Lyndon’s mother, has the common maternal feelings of happiness and gratitude towards Medfield and the wonderful education her son received here.
After the ceremonies, everyone excluding the graduates was invited to look at the decorations for this year’s All-Night Graduation Party.
Congratulations to the MHS Class of ’17.
