Salutatorian to Eighth Graders: Follow Your Dreams

Marisa Urcinole is looking forward to high school, with all the new teachers, classmates and experiences it will bring.

Before she goes, however, she will speak to her classmates of the Class of 2012 as the salutatorian.

“I get to talk about the future, so I’ll be talking to the class about high school and all the new things we’ll have, like more freedom and challenges,” Urcinole said. “I also want to talk to them about following their dreams.”

Urcinole spent much of her time in middle school as a member of the yearbook committee, school newspaper, art club, Math Counts club and student council.

“I want to run for student council again in high school,” she said. “I also want to do more clubs, like the math club.

She recalls the yearbook signings, sixth and seventh grade socials and the eighth grade dance as her favorite middle school memories.

One thing that makes Urcinole nervous is how much the class will be separated.

“We have some kids going to Pope John and the Morris County School of Technology,” she said. “I just want to wish everyone luck wherever they are.”