MassBay Student From Newton Selected To Deliver Commencement Address

NEWTON, MA — MassBay Community College announced Monday that general studies student and Newton resident Naomi Adamsky has been selected to deliver the student commencement address at the school’s 60th Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 26.

After graduating from Newton North High School in 2017, Adamsky began taking classes at MassBay. According to a statement, she was unsure of which program, or career, she wanted to pursue, and felt as if she simply was going through the expected, post-high school motions of going to college.

Adamsky stepped away from MassBay to work full-time and take time to determine what she truly wanted for her future. She eventually decided to finish what she started and resumed her college career.

“When I first began at MassBay, I felt as if I was going to college only because that was what I was ‘supposed’ to do, but quickly learned that I wasn’t truly happy,” Adamsky said in a statement. "I thought I had failed, but after returning to college and enjoying my classes the second time around, I ultimately walked away stronger and more aware of where I wanted to go in life. Taking that time away to discover what I really wanted to do was life-changing.”

When Adamsky addresses her fellow graduates and the MassBay community at Commencement, her speech will focus on “the times in our lives when we feel we may have failed and how much it hurts us to fail, it’s part of life, and how we learn and grow from these challenges help shape us and our futures.” She hopes the “graduates look at their journeys and reflect on how much they have learned and gained from their own experiences.

"Personally, I was sad when I left MassBay,” Adamsky said. "Now, thinking back to that time, I’m so proud of the moment when I decided for myself what was best for me, and I was able to finally move forward. I hope others also will see any obstacles on their paths as stepping stones that will help them learn and grow to become a more resilient person.”

Adamsky has been on the Dean’s List every semester she has been at MassBay and currently holds a 3.9 GPA. She is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Adamsky will earn her Associate in Science in general studies and will transfer to Simmons University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in information technology.

“I’m not sure of exactly what drew me to apply to speak at commencement,” Adamsky said. "I just felt I had something to share that would resonate with other students. Failing may sound like a negative, but I hope I can prove to people that sometimes it’s the most powerful lesson to help you succeed. I am excited and honored to be delivering the student commencement address."