PHOTO BY ALENA KUZUB
The family of graduate Matthew Mazzarella cheers by holding up signs with his face.
By ADAM SWIFT
LYNNFIELD — The members of the Lynnfield High School class of 2017 were urged to go forward and put their footprints on this big, beautiful complicated world during Friday’s graduation.
Superintendent Jane Tremblay offered up those and some other words of wisdom as the 152 graduates of this year’s class prepared to cross the stage and receive their diplomas.
“It’s imperative to always care more about the well-being of others than you do for yourself,” the superintendent said. “Commit to being the very best you that you can, and you can do that if you surround yourself with the very best people.”
Tremblay also shared the three hopes and dreams she told the students she has shared with each class that has come before them; those of love, peace, and joy.
While Tremblay shared her years of wisdom she has garnered in the Lynnfield school system, it was several of the graduates themselves who helped show the true character of the class.
“As students, we very rarely share the same emotions, but tonight, we share our accomplishment as the Lynnfield High School class of 2017,” said Abigail Dickey, the senior class president. She said the classmates have helped each other along the way over the past 13 years as they have progressed from crayons to Chromebooks and from chocolate milk to chocolate chip muffins.
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Class president Lilli Patterson thanked friends and family for helping all the members of the class get to where they are today, and the teachers and faculty for preparing them for the path ahead.
“And to my classmates, we finally did it,” said Patterson. “It truly is emotional to think that this is the last time we will all be together.”
In her speech, Valedictorian Caroline Buckley focused on conquering the fear of the future.
“It is crazy to think that 2017 is already here. It feels like yesterday it was only 2013 and we were all stepping through the doors of Lynnfield High School for the first time as wide-eyed freshmen, nervous about what the next four years would bring,” said Buckley.
She said that although the current chapter in their lives was ending and a new one about to begin, Buckley reminded the graduates not to leave what they have learned in the past at Lynnfield High behind.
“As you walk across this stage today, promise to not let the fear of failure stop you from following your dreams,” the valedictorian said. “LHS has provided us with the foundation, and now it is up to us to seize our future and the opportunities that will lead us to success.”