Cumberland High grads showed resilience
School celebrates 350 graduates from Class of 2023
CUMBERLAND – The Class of 2023 at Cumberland High School faced one more challenge while collecting their diplomas on Tucker Field Friday evening, this time a light spattering of rain drops as they began to cross their graduation stage.
Yes, they had to step carefully down the rain-slickened stage to return to their seats, and yet all of the estimated 350 new graduates made it through without a fall and or a disrupting downpour.
The Class of 2023 proved once again that they have a strong ability to take whatever comes along in stride and keep going.
That certainly was how Class of 2023 Salutatorian Suzanne Henderson handled the high school’s 129th graduation ceremony.
In addition to running the program, Henderson gave remarks both as Student Government President and Salutatorian before the ceremonies ended with the traditional flight of caps into the cloudy sky propelled by whoops and cheers.
“We made it here today despite losing over a year of normal school, we made it despite long walks up the icy footbridge those January mornings, we made despite all of the challenges hurdled at us along the way,” Henderson, the mistress of ceremonies, said.
The Student Government President took note that she and her peers did that with plenty of help.
“The Class of 2023 stands here making it today because of you,” Henderson told the audience of family members, friends, supporters and educators.
“We all had a person, a group of people, a family member, a teacher who guided us along the way. Now they are getting us through the rocks on the road to graduation. Along the way, we laughed with you, we most certainly cried with you, but most of all we thrived with you,” Henderson said.
Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos brought greetings from the State of Rhode Island and noted that Gov. Daniel J. McKee, a Cumberland native, likes to encourage students when the two attend graduations around the state.
“He always likes to remind students that always do your best and that you are the only one that knows when you are doing your best, so remember that,” Matos said of McKee.
The Lt. Governor also offered her own advice as a request for the graduates to remember their home state no matter where they head off to college or work.
“Those of you who are going to be leaving Rhode Island, I just want to put in a plug and ask you to come back. We need you here, we
need your talents, we need your skill and the State of Rhode Island needs you,” Matos said.
Offering an example of what it takes to get things done when the town council meets on Wednesdays, Mayor Jeffrey Mutter explained the Class of 2023 will need to work with others as they head off into their futures.
Noting how he needs the support of at least 4 members of town council to get things passed, Mutter said the Class of 2023 will find that to get “important things done, you are going to need the support of your colleagues.
“It will require listening to their ideas, emphasizing areas of agreement and people are going to try to define you, put you in a box, but don’t let them. Maintain access with those that think differently than you and work with everyone,” Mutter said.
The majority can be wrong, too, according to
Mutter.
“I’m asking you to look inward, to work on improving your argument and don’t tire of trying to get it right, even if it takes a while and don’t settle for just getting it done,” the mayor said.
“Congratulations on your achievement and all that has helped you along the way, make us proud, make yourselves proud and be good,” Mutter concluded.
Also pointing out the challenges encountered by the Class of 2023 during the pandemic, School Committee Chair Karen Freedman said, “making it here tonight is definitely cause for celebration.”
Relating how COVID-19 affected the early part of their time at the high school, Freedman said the Class of 2023 persevered and ultimately made the most of their senior year activities.
“Because Covid had taken so much from you, you realized the importance of making moments extra special,” Freedman said.
“As you move on, I hope you also realize that it really was a great day to be a clipper. Keep a piece of Cumberland in your heart forever, you have made this town and this school a better place,” Freedman said.
High School Principal Adolfo Costa told the Class of 2023 they were nearing the time when they would “charter your own course,” and voiced a hope that Cumberland High School had given them the tools needed to do that.
“And while you and your classmates may have similar goals how you get there, there will be differences and that’s OK,” Costa said.
Pointing out the popular phrase “Live your best life,” of recent years, Costa noted it can be interpreted several ways.
“Remember that everyone’s best life is different. So, your best life is unique to you in your story. What living my best life means for one person might not mean the same for another,” Costa added.
“Regardless of your interpretation, to live your best life you will need to overcome challenges. You will need to work for it. But by embracing your strengths, you will get to your destination,” Costa said.
During her Salutatorian address, Henderson related how her classmates’ arrival at high school opened new opportunities to connect with each other ways they had done since first arriving in elementary school.
“Groups expanded as people floated between them, school projects gave light to newly blossoming friendships as we worked outside school to complete them,” Henderson noted.
There was also time spent together on sport teams and extra-curricular activities and learned to ask questions of each other for help on many different things.
“It was the start to many friendships, the start of feeling like you finally fit in and the start of a lifetime of asking these questions,” Henderson said.
“Graduating today we need to keep asking these questions. Whatever the reason you ask, keep asking and keep answering yes,” Henderson advised.
Class of 2023 Valedictorian Orion Le started out by thanking his parents, his grandmother, and “all of my teachers,” before adding all the parents, guardians, teachers, staff, counselors to his list of those supporting “us on this journey and challenging us to be better.”
“In a world that moves so fast, sometimes we just need to take a step back and appreciate what we have. Take a step back and reflect. Be proud of what you have accomplished and look forward to the future,” Le advised his classmates.
After the diplomas were all awarded and the rain drops began to abate, Kaitlyn Berger, class president, sent her peers on their way with a bit of unexpected good humor.
“For those of you who don’t know me, you should know I’m not the biggest fan of public speaking,” Berger began.
“I mean, put me in front of big crowd and I kind of just start to ramble along. Good thing we have such a small crowd here tonight,” Berger said.
Berger related that it had been a running joke with her friends and “Mr. Clean, I mean Coach Crowley, that I didn’t write this speech until earlier this week and part of me believes that’s because writing this speech means the end of high school.
“And I procrastinated writing this so much because I didn’t want to leave,” Berger said.
The real reason she procrastinated was because she really didn’t know what to say, Berger continued.
“Now, as I thought of what I should say, I figured I would ask my smart friends for their ideas so I could palm them off as my own.
“The only problem with that is that I am the smart friend,” Berger added. “I mean, you wouldn’t believe what some of my friends said.
Berger said she was advised to give a shout out to people, be funny, which wasn’t that easy, sing a song, or play a game like “Never have I ever.”
“Which I thought was pretty funny, but too much of a risk.
“No one participates and then I’m stuck up here playing a game by myself.
“Besides, what could I use in the game— ‘Never have I ever called Mr. Costa, Adolfo to his face?” Berger asked.
Berger was also advised to offer life changing lessons but realized she didn’t know any that her classmates hadn’t already experienced.
“But I guess in all honesty that’s a lesson itself. I mean, I don’t’ know how the next few years will go, but neither do any of you,” Berger said.