Some graduates quote Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell or Benjamin Franklin. In Jade Brewer’s senior speech, she quoted Dr. Seuss.
You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose, she said. `You’re on your own and you know what you know, and you are the one who’ll decide where you go.`
As Brewer delivered the second senior speech of the evening at the South Colonie Central High School 2008 commencement ceremonies, seats were filled in the Empire Plaza Convention Center with parents, teachers, friends and family, waiting to witness their loved ones move on to adulthood.
The program began with a video presentation of students in the class who sat facing the screen, recapping the memories and moments that made their high school careers. Next came a song by the symphonic orchestra, singing of the alma mater, a processional and remarks from administrators in the district whose jobs are to create an educational environment for students to grow from the day they enter kindergarten to the day they graduate from high school.
`We’re very proud of what you’ve accomplished,` said Board of Education President Tim Ryan.
During the commencement, Ryan spoke highly of Superintendent of Schools Michael Marcelle, who will be retiring this summer.
`It’s been a pleasure to work with such an educated professional,` said Ryan.
Then Ryan spoke of one graduate who stood out among the more than 300 there — James Egan, an 83-year-old Coast Guard veteran, honorably discharged in 1945, who was unable to complete high school due to his military obligations. As part of Operation Recognition, Egan was able to receive his diploma on Monday, May 5, and be part of the 54th commencement ceremony for Colonie Central High School.
Concluding his remarks of praise for administrators and students in the district, Ryan advised the graduates to `have a wonderful, exciting life.`
Thomas Nicholson, principal of the senior class, reminded the graduates of the `Three L’s.`
`Live well, laugh often and love much,` he said, reminding the class that `living well does not necessarily mean living wealthy.`
Nicholson told the class that being about to laugh at themselves on occasion means they have great confidence, love has no ulterior motives, and `if you want to live your life to the best, don’t hold back on telling those you love you love them.`
Nicholson concluded by asking students to `let me know how your life unfolds.`
While administrators in the district chose to highlight quotes that embody life messages the graduating seniors should take with them as they embark upon their journeys, Brewer provided real-life memories that graduates from all high schools could relate to.
`It feels like we were little freshmen at orientation just yesterday,` she said.
Eyes of the graduates were on Brewer from the floor of the convention center, but thousands of family members and friends watched from the stadium seating that surrounded it.
Parents of twin graduates, Laura Kulzer and Paul Beverino, said they were very proud of their daughters.
`I told these girls ` don’t blink!` said Beverino, referring to how fast the time seems to go by.
Kulzer said the girls stayed up many nights `burning the midnight oil` working on projects to get through high school.
Lou Zanello, grandfather of graduate Andrew Petsche, said that he was very excited for his grandson, and very proud of his academic achievement.
`He was an excellent student. He achieved a 90 average all four years,` Zanello said.
Petsche plans to attend Villanova in the fall.
After all the names were read and diplomas received, the Colonie Central High School Class of 2008 exited the convention center in a way that one of their classmates, Cathryn Salamone, described during her senior speech.
`We are, yet again, the small fish in a big pond.“