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HATFIELD — Smith Academy valedictorian Zachary Lee said life in such a small school taught him to be more accepting of others – and to grow as a person.
“So if I have one message for you all tonight, it’s that everyone has something to teach you,” Lee said, particularly those from different backgrounds. “Those who can teach us the most are those who are most different from you.”
In the school gymnasium, where the time on the scoreboard was set to 20:16, the 29 members of the graduating class, holding pink peonies, marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance” below an archway formed from purple, white and silver balloons.
Science teacher Peter Bishop gave the commencement address, perhaps surprising students with his message.
“I want you to fail,” Bishop said. “I actually want you to go into the world and fall flat on your face at least once.”
But he explained that he fully expects to see greatness from the seniors and will celebrate their successes when he sees them again in 10 to 20 years. “That will tell me the fear of failure didn’t define your life,” Bishop said.
Salutatorian Sara Pawloski praised her classmates. “I realized that even though you guys annoy me like crazy at times, I admire you all in some way, whether it be your kindness, your confidence, your truthfulness or your humor,” she said.
Kayleigh O’Malley, who earned third honors, said memories are more important than old school papers which she recently threw away. “What really matters is the memories of the people from Smith Academy that we will be taking with us wherever we go in life,” O’Malley said.
Emotions ran high as Jill Rogaleski paid tribute to former classmate Rachel Newton, who died in a crash in New Hampshire in 2014. “She was truly the best friend I will ever have,” Rogaleski said. “She would make you smile no matter how much you wanted to burst into tears.”
Before the ceremony, seniors described their time at Smith.
“Smith was wonderful,” said Tia-Lynn Plantier, 18, who will be pursuing a dual major in criminal justice and psychology at Westfield State University in the fall. “It’s a small school and we all are like one big happy family.”
Vicki Thibault, 18, appreciated that she was able to fit in when she arrived as a sophomore from Hopkins Academy in Hadley.
“It’s been very nice here, very supportive and kind,” said Thibault, who will head to Mount Ida College in Boston where will pursue a degree in fashion design, with the goal of eventually opening a LGBTQ-friendly clothing store.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
