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HUNTINGTON — The 2016 senior class at Gateway Regional High School is small enough to fit in a single selfie, as they proved Friday night inside their gym. Minutes before being handed their diplomas, they mingled and chatted, lined up in two rows.
They wore matching blue and white gowns up top, but made their own statements with boots, sneakers of all colors, ballet slippers and sandals.
With rain holding off, they walked together across a parking lot, then processed, in short, rhythmic steps, toward family and friends waiting on an athletic field.
One of the hundreds watching was Wayne Roberts of Blandford, whose granddaughter, Jordan Roberts, sported dressy white shoes to go with her white gown.
“For me it’s emotional,” Roberts said as he looked upon the young woman he and his wife have raised. “Eighteen years.” He paused, his eyes wet. “So happy to see her proceed through life as she has. Everything’s come out so well, it keeps the wife and I happy.”
This same night, another grandchild, Avery Roberts, was graduating from high school in Austin, Texas, and Wayne was to hop a 7 a.m. flight Saturday to celebrate that family achievement as well. And mark his wedding anniversary to boot.
Along with balloons and the scent of cut flowers, gratitude was in the air, and on the lips of speakers.
Brennan Foley, the Student Council president, asked family and friends of graduates to stand, then told fellow graduates to take a long look. “You are the reasons why have all succeeded,” he said. “Our triumphs are you triumphs.”
Foley also thanked Gateway teachers, calling them “the bread and butter of the school.”
Sun broke through clouds hugging a nearby hill just as the school band broke into a spirited rendition of “Let’s Dance” by the late David Bowie.
Davis B. Britland, the salutatorian, urged his classmates to appreciate what they have. “Remember the important things in life, such as love, friendship and happiness. Hug your family, and spend some time talking with them, rather than looking at your phone.”
Jenna Margarites, the valedictorian, skipped up stairs to the stage to reflect on how hard it is to be considered an adult. “I mean just last week I had to ask Ms. Bishop if it was OK for me to use the rest room.”
In that spirit, she teased classmates about the need to leave behind email addresses they created in fifth grade. “Once you turn 18 it’s time to change your email from sexybeast911@hotmail.com.”
Margarites also issued a call for adult truthfulness – to a degree. “Always be honest – at least 94 percent of the time. The other 6 percent is for when your dentist asks if you’ve been flossing, your friend asks if they look fat and when your mom asks what you did last night.”
Superintendent David B. Hopson urged graduates to thank those who helped them. “Life is too short to be ungrateful and unfeeling,” he said.
Dylan Berthiaume, 18, of Blandford, who wrestled in the 132-pound weight class and plans to join the Marine Corps, had said moments earlier that he is grateful for his late stepgrandfather, who inspired him to join the military. “I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
He is also grateful for Paul Atkinson, his welding teacher, and Michael Forand, who taught math with a sense of humor by ending lessons with little pearls like, “Circles are pointless.”
And he said sports handed him one key is success: “Having heart. Sports teaches that you have to work hard in life, it’s not going to be given to you.”
Lillian Wyand, 17, of Huntington, and a member of the National Honor Society, said Gateway’s small size – 64 graduates – was critical to her success. “Having those close relationships. I could learn the best – and have a good time.” She plans to attend Regis College in Weston and study biology and biomedical engineering, though the term engineering scares her a little.
Waiting with Wyand at the end of queued-up graduates stood Koral Wentworth and Lauren Venne, fellow alphabetical last-placers. The night would end years of that. Did always being last bother them?
“It doesn’t really matter,” said Venne, 17, of Chester.
“You get to see everyone else mess up first, and you learn,” said Wentworth, 18, of Russell.
“Then I look good,” said Venne.
“I like the end. I like being the last member of the group,” added Wentworth, who plans to attend Holyoke Community College and pursue a career in elementary education.
When it comes time to line up her charges some day? She said she’ll use numbers on Popsicle sticks.