Masuk Graduates Ready to Explore a New World

Masuk High Schools campus was covered with vehicles and a number of drivers had to park a block away and walk to see the Class of 2013 graduate on the school football field Friday.

Cheers erupted from the home stands and the grassy hill when the young men and women donning caps and gowns marched by to the band playing "Pomp and Circumstance".

From the podium, Board of Education Chairman Darrell Trump praised this senior class for putting in over 20,000 hours of community service over the years, and encouraged them to continue to always help others. 

Dylan Zerjav, the class salutatorian, used golf references throughout his speech.

To illustrate how people can accomplish anything, Zerjav said, "Every time I sling my golf bag over my shoulder, I'm convinced that today will be better than the last. I always have a shot greater than my abilities suggest."

Class valedictorian Michael Coyne encouraged his fellow graduates not to become obsessed with what others expect of them or to feel they have to have all of the answers.

"I can say I don't know anything and that is ... well, the most important thing I do know," Coyne said.

The Lesson of Charlotte's Web

Noah Kreski talked about the ending of story "Charlotte's Web" when the spider saves the pig, Wilber's life and dies soon after. Wilber asks Charlotte why she did everything for him and she says, "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing."

"By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle," Charlotte adds. "Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

Kreski said, "While helping others, we help ourselves. Your parents, teachers and loved ones, they are your Charlotte."

Aviva Doery, the class president, was nostalgic in her speech, giving 13 reasons why they went to Masuk — from taking a side street to avoid waiting in a long line of cars trying to make a left turn out of the driveway at the end of the day, to their parents' despair when they saw Principal Joseph Kobza's name on the caller I.D., only to find he was calling to wish them a happy birthday.

Parting Advice

Kobza shared the "two dirtiest words" he knows, "opportunity" and "potential" and recalled times of heartbreak when, for whatever reason, he saw a student with so much potential give up in the face of an obstacle and become apathetic.

He then shared inventor Thomas Edison's famous quote: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

Aside from encouraging his students to work hard, Kobza praised them for taking the opportunity to help their neighbors following the tragic school shooting in Sandy Hook.

Supt. of Schools James Agostine recalled the fear generated by George Orwell's book "1984" when he went to school. Written in 1950, the book told the story of a bleak future in which a totalitarian government uses technology to control society.

However, Agostine says now, "Technology that imprisoned us will instead allow us to explore a new world."

"I hope that you will remember your years here at Masuk fondly and I will wish you success in the future," Agostine said. "Congratulations Class of 2013."