Absegami Graduates, Speeches For 2013

Lydia McAllister- Salutatorian

Final Draft: 6/7/13

Why Stop Now?

Good evening, Ms. Blair,  Dr. Gatto, Administrators, Members of the Board of Education, teachers, parents, students, family members, and pets.  It’s finally over.  We, the class of 2013, are graduating from Absegami High School!  This is the day when we end our high school careers and begin on our paths to something new and wonderful.  This day is one of the many milestones that mark the end of childhood and the start of adulthood.  While some of us are still legally children, we are all, at most, mere months away from venturing out into the dark unknown that is the world.  We will all be exposed to ideas, cultures, and characters that we might never have come in contact with were we not eager to move on, to grow, and to learn more. 

High school was the onset of this ideological contact.  We were pushed into close proximity with other students who have backgrounds that are poles apart.  There are ethnicities, religions, and languages from all over the world right here in our little corner of Galloway.  In a way, Absegami has been a microcosm of the society in which we live.  It was a trial period for how we will interact with the people we will encounter in our adult lives, whether we knew it or not.  We have a basic grasp of the types of people we will become as we mature.  We definitely know the types of individuals with whom we can work and the types that annoy us out of our ever-loving minds. 

We must all remember, however, that our experiences are still limited by our youth and our geography.  The unfortunate part about Absegami’s being a microcosm is that it is a microcosm.  It only replicated the world within the boundaries of Galloway Township.  Most of us, disregarding cultural differences, have similar backgrounds.  Elementary school was either Smithville, Arthur Rann, Roland Rogers, or Reeds Road, middle school was GTMS, and high school was Absegami.  We are only truly familiar with Southern, semi-rural, New Jersey.  While we have done and achieved many things, some of which include gaining admission to Ivy League colleges, breaking sports records, earning thousands of dollars in scholarships, performing hundreds of hours of volunteer service, and attaining the #3 spot nationally in Marching Band competition, we haven’t made many real, lasting marks outside of the Galloway area – yet.  We have only really affected our locality because that is the only home we have known, the only place we have been.

Fortunately for us, we now have the opportunity to affect and learn about the outside world.  High school may be over, but the learning has just begun.  In high school, we thought of learning as being strictly connected to only scholastic endeavors.  That notion is not true; in addition to academics, learning is about growing as a person and having new experiences.  This is the time to expand our horizons past the boundaries of Galloway Township.  In order to do this, we will have to acquire one of the most important parts of humanity’s resources to take on the world – the ability to adapt to new surroundings. 

When we all leave for either college, the military, or the workforce, we will inevitably be exposed to new people and places; we will have to learn about regional idiosyncrasies  we have  never even thought about.   We might settle down somewhere where no one knows what Lindy Hopps or a Boardwalk is, and we  will certainly have to adapt to living and working with people whom we have not yet even met.   It is all a part of the process of continuing to grow; we all must go through it in order to mature into the people we were meant to be.  Even though this may prove to be a challenge, adapting to a new environment can be one of, if not the most, exciting and educational parts of our personal evolutions.  If nothing else, it makes life more interesting and affords each of us the opportunity to achieve and influence on a greater scale, one no longer limited by youth and geography.  

We have always welcomed the challenges of the past  -  Why Stop Now?

Final Draft- 6/7/13

“From Rugrats to Celebrities: The Achievements of the Class of 2013"

Good evening, Ms. Blair, Dr. Gatto, members of the Board of Education, administrators, teachers, parents, relatives, friends, and, of course, the Class of 2013!  I guess I should start by saying that, while I’m extremely honored to have the opportunity to speak today, I have no deep philosophical wisdom or great life insight.  So, I won’t bore you by reciting quotes from Aristotle, discussing the economy and foreign affairs, or explaining our roles as the leaders of tomorrow.  When I asked my classmates what they wanted to hear me talk about, I got a variety of answers.  Someone suggested that I talk about cupcakes.  Many others said that as long as my speech is “mind-blowing,” it will be fine.  Despite this brilliant advice, I decided to just reflect on a few practical lessons learned during our time here at Absegami.

First and most importantly, I realized that the only way to make the most of life is to pursue our unique passions and to find inspiration in the world around us.  While many of us consider ourselves to be average people, the range of talent in our class is truly extraordinary.  We have students going to Ivy League schools, people who are unbelievable artists, others who are amazing athletes, and more still who are musical geniuses.  One of our classmates has even been on American Idol!  Each one of us possesses the potential to excel.  Yet, nothing valuable in life will be handed to us on a silver platter; we must remember to find inspiration in things that others take for granted and to develop our talents through hard work and perseverance.

I think it’s crucial to realize that while raw talent for something may take us far, no matter what we do, we have to put in the effort.  No matter where life takes us, we will be stressed out at times.  But not all stress is necessarily harmful.  If you think about it, the word “stressed” is merely the word “desserts” spelled backwards.  Like chocolate, ice cream, pie, and cupcakes, we need stress in moderation to live a healthy life.  While not every day will be a walk in the park, we must remember that, as Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal:  it is the courage to continue that counts.”  But for now, let’s forget about the stress of the future and celebrate with our friends, family, and teachers all that we’ve accomplished.

First of all, we’ve acquired the ability to inhale cafeteria food at a superhuman rate thanks to the twenty-five-minute lunch lines.We’ve gained a little more patience after having to deal with the constant congestion of students in the 200 hallway.

We’ve mastered the art of compromise after having to work with people with vastly different opinions in our classes and our extracurricular activities.

Academically, we’ve learned to identify organisms in the Absegami pond in Biology and to “derivify” functions, an integral part of Calculus.

We’ve advanced our procrastination to new limits and have gained the ability to complete homework assignments mere minutes before they’re due.

We’ve risen to Youtube celebrity status thanks to the first-ever Lip Dub.

We’ve performed an extremely successful Talent Show, a hilarious Mr. Absegami competition, and several amazing musicals.  This is especially remarkable considering that, as freshmen, our Pep Rally skit consisted of members of our class crawling on the gym floor as Rugrats while also chasing a turkey. 

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve come a long way, and I am excited to see where this next chapter in our lives will take us.

While many people claim that high school is the best four years of their life, I know that our futures hold an infinite series of triumphs.

Without a doubt, we couldn’t have accomplished all that we have without the support of those around us.  I want to personally thank my teachers for my newly-developed addiction to caffeine.  I’m sure Starbucks would like to thank them too.  Next, I want to thank my parents for not putting me up for adoption during those rough eighteen years.  But seriously, don’t forget to thank your parents for driving you to school late on all those days when you woke up at nine.  Thank your teachers for staying after school to help you understand the day’s lesson and for supplying you with gum and Arizona Iced Tea on the days when you began to fall asleep in class.  And, of course, thank your friends for putting up with your hormonal imbalances all these years.

Finally, and I promise that this is my last point, I’ve learned that, undoubtedly, we will all change.  Not only that, the world in which we live will change.  As Wendell Johnson, a psychologist, once said, “Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.”  Don’t be afraid of change, as it is inevitable.  Despite this ever-present uncertainty, we must take the reins and be active participants in the lives we are living.  While many aspects of our world are temporary, we cannot simply allow random events to shape our identities.  What we have to do is take what life gives us and run with it.  When life gives us a hundred reasons to cry, we must show life that we have a thousand reasons to smile.

And with that, Class of 2013, farewell, and good luck!

Here is the list of Absegami High School graduates for 2013.

Zakiyy Sa'id Abdullah

Jenna Marie Adams

Tamira Aaliyah Adams

Spencer Masaeuki Agli

Alisha Ahmed

Mina Ahn

Faraz Aijaz

Gary Vincent Albano  Jr.

Lanisha Angel Alexander

ZeeShawn Ali

Chelsie Monaè Allen

Samantha Grace Allen

Maria Dolores Alonzo

Miron Avi Alpheaus

Youssara Ammari

Devash Anandpara

Hayley Lois Aruanno

Katelynn Jean Ashworth

Amber Richelle Atkinson

Amber Sierra Atkinson

Antonio M. Baang

Megan Elizabeth Baglivo

Matthew A. Bansback

Amar Ketan Barot

Aleesha Dudee Beaufils

Tyrique DeJion Beckett

Jennifer Leigh Bell

Kathryn Elizabeth Bennett

Sierra Zhanè Bennett

Prarthana Atulkumar Bhatt

Ashraf Bhuyian

Tyler Quincey Bing

Michael David Bird

Conal Ryan Bissell

David Victor Blake

Nicholas Robert Bloom

Randall Donovan Bock

Tatum Rose Boehm

Malik Rashaad Boone

Justin Tyler Bradley

Nicholas Santos Branco

Joseph Thomas Brennan

Matthew Thomas Breslau

Danielle Nicole Brown

James Harold Brown

Marissa Ann Burns

Erica Suzanne Butterhof

Dylan David Caccamesi

Allison Diane Calabrese

Tyler Louis Calimer

Megan Louise Cantz

Steven Cao

Dominique Rose Caputo

Jacqueline Ann Caputo

Marlaina Michelle Caputo

Jenna Lucia Caravello

Jordan Christopher Carboy

Kelly Anne Carmichael

Kennedy Chaise Carpenter

Darren Mikhail Carrillo

DeShawn Maurice Carson

Jesse Carter

Tiana Sinn Carter

Laurel Min Cassin

Jonathan Francis Catalfumo

Jackie Chang

Alyssa Danielle Chase

Emily Chau

Helena Chau

Veronica Chau

Hsien-Chi Chen

Hsien-Li Chen

Victoria Chen

Zachary Alexander Chinnici

Hsing-I Chou

Jaleel Marcus Christmon

Lam Ai Chung

Rachel Cifelli

Julia Marie Clark

Zakira Samille Dionne Clark

Alexis Jade Clavell

Joseph Anthony Clements

Charles James Cobb Jr.

Brianna Coderre

Gabrielle Laura Cohen

Matthieu Wallace Coleman

Matthew Collins

Connor Conrad Conard

Sergio Valentino Concepcion

Stefanie Chase Consalvo

Ashley Lynn Constantino Massey

Michael Alexander Contreras

Xiomara Briana Raquel Contreras

Jenavieve Louise Coulon

Blair Elizabeth Cournoyer

Lauren Elizabeth Coyle

William Joel Crespo

Ronne-Jerrick Alfaro Cuartocruz

Andrew Scott Curtin

Darrin Charles Czellecz

Lauren Nicole D'Angelo

Bashir Yunus Davis

Justin Alexander Dawson

Keano Joseph DeGennaro

Devlynn Lee Deitrick

Audrey Lina Del Re

Fiorella Del Rosario

Briana Delano

Nicholas Charles Della Vecchia

Christopher Tyler Dendler

Rebecca Elise DeRose

Akshaykumar Nareshbhai Desai

Mansi Desai

Robert T. DeWinton

Troya Rani Dey

Miranda Grace Dobron-Darling

Kelsey Nicole Dorn

Kaitlyn Marie Doyle

Deena Lynn Drozd

Kevin Thomas Duncan  Jr.

Tobin Joseph Richard Durand-Scott

Joseph Brion Eberhart

Cyril Ebosie 

Laura Elaine Edwards

Luis Michael Edwards

Victoria Elizabeth Edwards

Matthew Ryan Eichel

Jocelyn Elizabeth Ekis

Vincent Thomas English

Azja Alliyah Epps

Garrett Richard Erario

Alex Andres Espichan

Christopher Dario Espinal

Erik Charles Ewell

Joshua Lee Fabel

Kayla Fagan

Gabriela Figueroa

Viana Lou Figueroa

Christopher Michael Filling

Tatiana Nichole Fiore

Nicholas Ryan Fleming

Matthew Daniel Fletcher

Tania Flores

Alejandro Esthephano Florez 

Brianna Ashley Foster

Christian Alfred Foti

John Ignatius Francisco

Julia Marie Francke

Randy Todd Frazier

Devon Marie Freed

Oren Friday

Andrew Edward Friedlander

Carlos Galeano

Desiree Elaine Garcia

William Edward Gilbert

Christopher Ryan Gillis

Jake Anthony Glaser

Austin Gregory Goodwin

Elizabeth Rose Gormley

Jennifer Gosman

Alex Joseph Goukler

Lauren Catherine Goukler

Natalie Lynn Greco

Marvin Jacob Green

Dustin Montana Guenther

Jermaine Christopher Guillen-Gaskins

Annmarie Grace Guinta

Michelle Anne Gullone

Gregory Lamar Haines Jr.

Kyra Nichelle Hammond

Caroline Rosemary Harrison

Stephanie Dianna Haslett

Kelsey Lynn Heintz

Brandon Matthew Herbert

Erika Pagsuyuin Hernandez

Guy Anthony Higgins

Monica Marie Hillesheim

Kelly Gale Hitt

Bryan Patrick Hofstetter

Jennifer Lynn Holland

Barbara Katrina Holmes

Kayla Elizabeth Hope

Sean Patrick Hotlen

Christopher William Hughes

Elizabeth Anne Hulbert

Franco Luc Huynh

Alexandria Genevieve Indrieri

Wesley Ryan Ingersoll

Falon Melissa Irwin

Courtney Ann Jack

Alexis Louise Jackson

Angela Tiffany Jackson

Mach Jackson Jr.

Iyana Nicole James

Samra Tariq Jarral

Felicia Ann Jenkins

Lindsey Estelle Jewell

Vivek Chetan Jha

Hailey Gabrielle Jones

Rolando Antonio Juarez

Kathryn Jean Juniewicz

Adrian Adam Kaminski

Zachary Taylor Karaisz

Eric Andrew Kasunich

Marthaline Harriet Kennedy

Salman Khalid

Monique J.  Kerstedt

Brittany Lee Kidd

Rashad Lamar Kinlaw

Kyle Charles Kirvay

Shericka Rohanna Lornetta Knight

Dionne Ko

Brianna Lyn Kolbe

Nicholas Brandon Kopervos

Joseph Patrick Kovsh

Scarlett Dorothy Kromer

Hannah Leah Kuharik

Andrew Zachary Kupp

James L'Erario  Jr.

Christine Poye Lam

Steven Fredrick Land

John Kwangho Lee

Nathan   Lee

Jeffrey Lee Legagneur

Ly'Teesha Ta'Miah-Ronette Letson

Alaina Grace Lewis

Angelo Thomas Lewis

Ziwei Li

Vincent Joseph Licolli Jr.

Dayonara Ashley Link

Aaliyah  Little

Ahmad Alex Little-Hannibal

Karly Elizabeth LoSasso

Darryl Anthony Loveland Jr.

Devin Marie Lupton

Collin Christopher Lynch

Elizabeth Macauley

Tatyana Angelina Mack

Tori Lee Macrina

Rebecca Helen Maguire

Golam Majumder

Victoria Maldonado

Shannon Malloy

Tura Ebrahim Mamme

Gina Marie Marinelli

Jaymee Lynn Martin

Justice Lamont Martin

Brian Connor McAlister

Lydia Joanne McAllister

Nicole McClain

John Patrick McColgan  Jr.

Morgan Frances McColgan

Matthew Thomas McCormick

Thomas Michael McGivney

Alvin Hazen Mears

Timeer Dhruv Mehta

Nevin Li Mei

Armando Mejia-Hernandez

Brittney Paige Melanson

Andrès Anthony Melendez

Michael Anthony Mercedes Santiago

Paige Julette Merva

Dustin Patrick Miller

Sean Robert Milligan

Joseph Patrick Milliken

Gabriella Reneè  Miranda

Louis Miranda III

TaTiana Tashira Renay Moore

Anthony James Morales

Lizbeth Morgan

Taylor Lynn Morgan

Melissa Michelle Morillo

Allison Jordan Morris

Stacey Morgan Morris

Denise M. Mulbah

Angelica Ann Mullins

James Robert Munroe

Zacchaeus Jacob Muntazar

Tina Marie Murphy

Michelle Lynn Myland

Kaitlyn Marie Nash

Carlos Antonio Naveira-Ayala

Hasina Noory

Michele Mary Normant

Sarah Ann Norton

Nelsanyris Lyanca Ortiz

Ahmad Mohamed Osman

Young Woo Pae

Alexander JiHun Pak

Brett Alexander Pappas

Nicholas Ryan Pappas

Heather Marie Parillo

Samantha Eunmyung Park

Tiffany Suyeon Park

Jamar Malik Parker

Taylor Breanne Parker

Aashini Jitendra Patel

Dhvanika Mayur Patel

Dipal Yogesh Patel

Janki Patel

Karan Kamlesh Patel

Krina J. Patel

Nikita Patel

Shahil Amrutkumar Patel

Shayna Rajendra Patel

Shradha Rajendra Patel

Vignesh  D. Patel

Vishvesh Umesh Patel

Joshua Shane Patterson

Justin Richard Peek

Kylie Jay Pepper

Emily Le Perez

Luke Robert Petrecca

Morgan Elizabeth Petsch

Amanda Illa Petty

Danny Pham

Julia Ann Pietropola

Carmelo Polisano

Myasia Geneva Pressley

Bristin Nikole Price

Abdul Elijah Prince

James Robert Pruchnicki

Michael David Pruchnicki

Nicolette Gabriel Rallo

Angela Renee Raphael

Kajal Ashok Ratwani

Joseph Tyler Raymond

Charles Franklin Reed VI

Gabrielle Ann Reeves

Emily Margaret Repnicki

Bryan Arturo Reyes

Dennis Ricci Jr.

Justin Christopher Rice

Gianfranco Rifici

Florence Ritondo

Carla Michelle Rivera Cordero

Jose Alejandro Rivera

Robert Antonio Rivera

Steven M. Roback

Ryan James Roberts

Emil Jamal Robinson

Carlos Horacio Rocha

Alexis Marie Rodriguez

Anais Rodriguez

Francis Marie Rodriguez

Joel A. Rodriguez

Joshua Costina Roldan

Miranda Leigh Romesburg

Angel Rosario

Marissa Margaret Rouse

Aubrey Koren Rowland

Lorraine Lyn Roylance

Justin Gilbert Ruiz

Naman Sachdeva

Steven Craig Raguine Sagun

Fatima Saleem

Anneliese Erna Salvatore

Carley Katherine Sanders

Gabrielle Marie Sandfort

Rabiul Sany

Samantha Jordan Schaaf

Kevin Schaffer

Casey Phillip Schrading

Nyasia Aneace Schriver

Taylor Marie Schwanzer

Rebecca Lynne Scull

Jenna Leigh Seddon

Valerie Danielle Seel

Maurice Lorenzo Sellman

Emily Sarah Seltzer

Alexa Maree Sepulveda

Darren Michael Sewell

Akash Kirit Shah

Jugnu Bipin Shah

Monica Mariam Monir Sharobeam

Alexander Lee Shazad

Rachael Irene Shee

Stephanie Ann Showalter

Vladimir Shustov

Briana Marie Simon

Timothy Edward Simon

Christina Bernadette Skalitzky

David Thomas Skeele

Christopher Francis Smith

De'Andre Denzel Smith

Hans Bailey Smith

Savon Tomar Smith

Gabrielle Rose Snavely

HelenRose Snelgrove

Saad Shahid Sohail

Eder Eduardo Solano

Ivan J. Solano

Manish Sondhi

Jason Andrew Soto

John Joseph Spavlik Jr.

Joel Patrick Spina

Marcus Tyler Springel

Madison Alivia Stephens

Danielle Nicole Stuckel

Truong Su

Emil J. Suarez

Isaac Malachi Sullivan

Bhavik Rohit Surti

Bindiya Dilip Surti

Allison Sutterlin

Shaquana Ayanna Swain

Ryan Nicholas Swartz

DaJuan L. Tatem

Kevin Lavar Taylor

Erik Christopher Tejeda

Peter Laurence Thornton

Jessica Marie Tibaldo

Leah Marie Tomasetti

Priscilla Tong

Joanie Marie Torres

Tiffany Desiree Torres

Nhi Bao Tram

Rejean Trinidad

Cody Hunter Trout

Ericka Marie Ulrich

Peter Anthony Varsalona

Kevin Gamalier Vazquez

Payne Vazquez

Jacob Vincent Robert Vedral

Michael PedroJuan Velez

Yoanna Plyamenova Velichkova

Dante Michael Venafro

Victoria Louise Verrone

India Cesilia Villanueva

Barbara Dalina Vixama

Gerard Wagner

Keith Shane Wagner

Bethany Noel Warlich

Anthonee Kendall Watford-Williams

Brittany Marie Watson

California Joy Watson

Hannah Sara Watson

Jeffrey Allyn Weinert

Madelaine Louise Welch

Kyle James White

Jesse Lee Whitland

Collin Reece Wiener

Eric Jay Wiesman

John Nicholas Willette

Gabrielle Elise Wilson

Kourtniey Lynne Wilson

Leonard Nolus Wilson II

Kirsten Ann Wimberg

Victoria Anna Wimberg

Breanna Michelle Witmer

Jeremy Christopher Wong

Jacky Wu

Kristina DelBarco Yarchevskaya

Robert Francis Yaros

Cara Ann Zampino

Kenneth Montel Zeigler

Matthew William Zenak

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE

Johnnie Piela Bieniakowski Jr.

Lauren Brown

Rashida Mika Enlow

Alexander Orpiano

Wayne Andrew Smith, Jr.

Natalia de Menezes Lindenmaier