Northmen graduates look to the future
NORTH SMITHFIELD – Perhaps an hour before North Smithfield High’s annual Commencement exercises on Friday evening, some members of the Class of 2017, like Hailey Raskob and Sean Murphy, viewed their graduation with both excitement and sadness.
“It’s pretty crazy; it feels like yesterday that we just got here, and now it’s all over,” admitted Murphy, who played football, hockey and volleyball for the Northmen. “This is surreal. It’s amazing how fast it went. It’s kind of sad.”
Noted Raskob, who spent an aggregate eight seasons representing the tennis and both
indoor and outdoor track: “I’m excited about starting a new chapter of my life, but I’ll miss the athletics, all my friends and (Athletic Director) Mr. (Matt) Tek for helping me with my school-to-career internship.
“He taught me skills that I’ll need to maybe become involved in sports administration,” she added, noting she will further her education at Rhode Island College. “I got to run the Sports Awards Night on June 6, and it went great.”
Then there was Kyle Peterson, an Eagle Scout who involved himself in the school’s concert and symphonic bands during his four-year tenure. When asked if he was at all melancholy about the end of his secondary education, he immediately stated, “No, I’ve got a straight-ahead plan. I have two jobs this summer, working as an usher at Cinemaworld at Lincoln Mall, and I’m working as general laborer at Abboud Farms.
“I’m going to save money so I can go to RIC in the fall and study business management,” he continued. “I also hope to join a conservative student organization. I’m definitely happy about the moments I spent here at North Smithfield, but I’m ready to move on. I’ve learned a lot in my time here, and I’m ready to use those skills in college.”
The differences in each graduate’s plan for the future was the theme of the ceremony, held under sunny and mostly blue skies at the Northmen’s football field. In fact, the scoreboard operator set up the words, “Congrats” over the visitor’s scoring column and “Seniors” over the host’s, with the time clock winding down the minutes to the event’s start.
It proved to be a nice touch and fitting start. The class strolled in two lines across the turf, one at the 45yard line, the other at the 25, to take their seats; as always, it came to Edward Elgar’s “Pomp & Circumstance.”
Class President Sophia Pasquariello greeted the throngs in the stands, then the school’s awardwinning chorus and band delivered a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
Superintendent of Schools Michael St. Jean, after being introduced by Assistant Principal and Emcee Stephen Boss, joked about how it had rained two-plus hours before the ceremony, and blamed Principal Timothy McGee for the downpour, but credited himself for the sunshine.
St. Jean admitted that when he applied for his job a year before, he didn’t quite know where North Smithfield was, that he had grown up in the Ocean State but never really had the chance to investigate its natural beauty and educational success.
“I spent the last year exploring North Smithfield, and it’s the coolest place I’ve ever worked,” he said. “I saw a dress rehearsal of ‘We the People’ here, which convinced me I had the utmost respect for the continuance of democracy in America.
“I went to the Christmas Concert,” he added. “I’ve been to them before, so I’m not a big fan of them, but this one was no ordinary Christmas Concert. It was that good … To the graduating class, I hope you appreciate you’re town and school. I wish you the best of luck.”
Then came McGee’s creative address, one in which he told the graduates he wanted to do something special for them, so wrote them a poem.
He initiated it by placing on his head a cap made famous by Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat and proceeded.
His message included rhyming four-sentence verses, among the most notable: “Some will choose college, others a job, some will serve country, it’s exciting, don’t sob; Please make a difference, enjoy life and have fun, and always remember, the power of one; One single person, your own point of view, hold fast to your values, that’s what you should do; Just be sure what you choose, is aligned with your will, and give it your all, don’t sit back and chill;” You leave us prepared, to do as you please, you now take the wheel, I hand you the keys.”
Naturally, that drew a rousing round of laughter.
School Committee Chair James J. Lombardi asked the seniors to thank their teachers, administrators, parents and other family members for their everlasting support.
“Think hard about what you want to be,” he implored them. “Be humble, help people when you can … Always be responsible and accountable. It’s important to give back to the community, so do the best you can. People will notice.”
Next up for the Class of 2017: Salutatorian Jacob DiSpirito, who will attend Brown University this fall.
“I know great things lie ahead for all of my classmates; whether someone is planning to be a doctor or a teacher, I can guarantee that the members of this class will leave their mark on this world for the better,” he offered. “Walt Disney once said, ‘Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths,’ and I urge us all to be curious individuals who look to solve the world’s problems … However, no matter where we end up in life, we always have to remember where we came from.”
He then closed, “It is not a coincidence that we have some of the best reading and math scores in the state, great AP scores, an amazing ‘We the People’ program, and a oneof-a-kind music program. We were able to experience all of these things because we truly have amazing teachers.”
Valedictorian Abigail Palmer, who will chase a Bachelor’s of Arts & Sciences at Boston University, followed the school chorus’ terrific version of Joan Szymko’s “It Takes a Village,” with soloist Cullen MacDonald at the helm.
“I’m going to offer two simple hopes for you: First, that you find that other half,” Palmer said. “Whether it’s a dream job, a family, place or person; let go of any fears or doubts. You find what makes you happiest. My last hope is that you leave people better than you found them. Mark them for the better.”
After a thoughtful commencement address by Dr. Charles Steinberg, president of the Pawtucket Red Sox, Lombardi began the Presentation of Diplomas.