20 students graduate from Good Hope School
Published: June 7, 2010
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Graduates toss their caps Saturday at the Good Hope School Commencement Ceremony at the school’s gymnasium.
ST. CROIX — The Good Hope School auditorium resonated with soft songs and boisterous cheers as the 20 members of the Class of 2010 were honored Saturday evening in a ceremony that talked about the responsibilities that come with the opportunities they have received.
With each graduate heading off on a new adventure in the fall — be it attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology or taking time to volunteer with AmeriCorps — the graduates reflected on the tight-knit family they developed at Good Hope.
“Over the years, we’ve had our share of struggles, arguments and pow-wows,” salutatorian Kristian Fennessy said. “And although distance may divide us next fall, we will remember each other in our hearts and memories.”
Both Fennessy and valedictorian Ashlee Douglas acknowledged the importance of the support of their families and teachers in helping shape them. At the end of his speech, Fennessy asked his classmates to reach under their chairs for the bouquet of flowers to hand out to those most important to them.
Each graduate then grabbed the yellow and white flowers resting beneath their chair and made their way around the filled auditorium to hand them out. Some had a few carefully chosen flowers, others an armful to be handed out to an array of people.
Douglas got up and spoke after the sharing of flowers.
“Like my fellow classmates, I have been dreaming of this day for years,” she said. “Now that it’s here, I have to catch my breath.”
She went on to describe the class as organized chaos. Proof of that became apparent when graduates’ names were read out along with their interests as they went to receive their diplomas.
Musicians, actors, athletes and scholars are hopeful doctors, film producers, chefs, nutritionists and Coast Guardsmen.
“We are loud and opinionated,” Douglas said. “But through the organized chaos, we stand before you ready to make our place in the world.”
At the introduction of Douglas and Fennessy, Head of School Raquel Cedano, described the two as both “being a little competitive with each other.”
Douglas will be heading off to study music production and electrical engineering at Drexel University in the fall. She said the key to her success was staying positive and working hard for what you want.
She also said she always read assignments at least twice and would sometimes rewrite notes to make sure they were organized.
Fennessy got a perfect score on the SAT math section, helping land him a spot at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall where he plans to major in architecture.
He found he retained information best when he read it out loud to himself — he even listened to vocabulary lists on his iPod while he slept to help him with the SAT.
But the hard work means nothing if it is not balanced by fun, he said.
“Work hard; play hard,” Fennessy said. “You get your work done and you can play hard and get that psychological refreshment.”
As the ceremony progressed, two songs echoed inspirational in the large, open space. A simple piano accompaniment complimented soft renditions, as the upper school choir sang “Wherever You Go,” and a number of graduates sang “Unwritten.”
Chair of the English Department Edward Washburn addressed the students as academic royalty.
“Graduates,” he said, “you are the real royalty of the world. But with royalty comes responsibilities.”
Only 6 percent of the world can attend college, he said. “And we rejoice at your good fortune.”
He urged the graduates to “remain clear-headed and starry-eyed” and to “stay safe, stay focused and stay inspired” as they move on in the next phase in their lives.
As the ceremony closed, graduates marched triumphantly down the center aisle and through a white archway connected to a thatched divider. Once all were behind the divider, a loud roar rose to the rafters, matched almost by the flying mortarboards thrown up in celebration.
There, they met up with family members and well-wishers as they threw arms around each other to take pictures, offering up broad smiles fresh diplomas to the cameras.
