Mason Graduates Ready for New Challenges

Standing ovations are nothing new at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday night, the ovation at the George Mason High graduation ceremony inside the famous venue lasted almost two minutes. The ceremony wasn’t over. In fact, it hadn’t been going on too long.

The ovation came after senior Samuel Waters belted out high and low notes to “The Impossible Dream.” Tears flowed down the faces of almost everyone in the building.

Some parents in the audience spoke amongst themselves about what the talented performer fought through to sing the song.

“I was diagnosed with cancer about four or five weeks ago,” Waters said.

Waters was one of the 140 students who received their diplomas from the high school. Three of the classes 26 Valedictory Scholars – Daniel Drawbaugh, Anne Briggs and Matthew Baker – gave speeches with themes of family, perseverance and empowerment. Superintendent Dr. Lois Berlin, who will be retiring June 30 after seven years of service, was also handed a diploma as she stated she graduated from the same stage 41 years ago.

As with all graduations, the seniors were given an array of advice from adult speakers throughout the ceremony. Joan Wodiska, Falls Church City Public School board chair, gave the students a verbal text message of “L.B.Y.” (Live beyond yourself) and challenged them to solve problems, get dirty and roll up their sleeves. Berlin told the students she hopes whatever they seek that they find it with their eyes wide open.

Commencement speaker Pete Geren reminisced with the students about things they would remember over the last 10-years within the FCCPS school system. School plays, musicals, sports and so on. As he spoke, the faces of the students lit up as they too remembered the instances he spoke of.

For some students, those instances were long behind them and helped prepare them for the moment.

“We’ve been moving toward this point for a while,” said Daniel Fletcher who will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall. “It feels good to finally be done though.”

Rachel Hassan, who will be attending the University of Tampa in Florida, said she’s excited to be heading off to college and into a new phase of her life. She said she won’t miss the cold weather, but she will miss the warmness of the City of Falls Church.

“I’m going to miss the community,” she said. “We are a family.”

Waters, 18, had planned on studying opera at Rice University in Houston in the fall. Instead, he will be going through treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor. Waters, who was recently named Best Male Singer at the National Capital Area Cappies Awards for his role in the production of Les Miserable’s, said he hopes the treatment won’t interrupt his singing past the time frame doctors have given to treat his condition.

“During the next 10-months of treatment, I won’t be able to sing,” Waters said.