Year after year, graduating senior classes overcome unprecedented challenges, and the class of 2023 is no exception. With only six months of a traditional high school experience under their belt, they were thrust into a new academic environment where the definition of normal was being rewritten every day. Yet, as they walked across the stage in Newton South High School’s Field House on June 8, their persistence was proven to be relentless.
Moderated by Class President Tom Shimoni and Class Vice President Andrew Hsu, the ceremony hosted Principal Tamara Stras and Interim-Superintendent Kathy Smith as speakers, along with the Class Speaker, Wasan Rafat.
After the ceremony, Rafat said that speaking at graduation was an experience like no other and that she was proud of being able to tell her story.
“Speaking at graduation was surreal. I knew that I would feel nervous, but surprisingly, once I walked up to the stage all I felt was awe,” she said. “The lights were so bright, there were way more people than I had expected, but I wasn’t nervous once I spoke the first word. I felt really proud of myself for sharing my story and getting over the nerves to deliver something that, hopefully, someone in the crowd could relate to.”
Graduated senior Stephanie Saloum said that she didn’t focus much on the ceremony itself, but enjoyed seeing classmates and families come together for the event.
“Honestly it was all a blur,” she said. “I was really nervous the entire time, so I zoned out a lot and only heard bits of the speeches. All I was thinking about was not falling on stage, not gonna lie. I spent most of the ceremony looking around the audience for my parents and familiar faces. It was really fun to see all the families with the big heads of their kids, the custom shirts families were wearing, and the baby pictures.”
Along with speaking, Shimoni and Hsu, with the rest of the class office, presented a lion mascot costume as their class gift. Hsu said that they chose the costume with the intention of it being a unique addition to South’s developing culture of school spirit.
“We wanted to have something for our class gift that was a little bit more memorable, and not to flex, but we had a little bit extra money too, … so we decided to go for something a little different,” he said. “It’ll last for however long it lasts, but it’s a very visible senior gift instead of just some bench somewhere. … It really connects with our class identity of school spirit — having that really tangible idea of school spirit is so amazing to us.”
Along with the lion costume, Shimoni said that he is leaving South with joy and confidence in his class having achieved so much already, especially taking into account the circumstances they faced.
“I’d want to leave the class of ’23 with a sense of pride that we made it to the end with a smile on our faces,” he said. “We were sadly stuck with the Covid rebound years for our high school experience, so it’s nice to see that despite the unfortunate situation, we can still be happy.”
Rafat said that the frequent ups and downs of her past four years was what made her high school experience dynamic and of incredible value.
“High school was not always terrific, but even amid the low points there was always something to learn and experience,” she said. “I had moments that I look back on fondly, making new friends, joining a club that I would come to love, meeting a particularly inspiring teacher, and also moments that I don’t like recalling. In general, however, my high school experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and even the subpar moments have taught me necessary lessons.”
But ultimately, graduated senior Matan Josephy said that the feeling of graduating is one of liberation.
“Honestly? I feel free,” he said. “Like for the first time I feel completely free. Which is a pretty weird thing to say, right? That isn’t to say I hated South or anything, but this is the first time where I genuinely have nothing to do, and it feels pretty nice. I’m trying to make the most of it. I’m not focused on the fall or worrying about college or anything, but I’m just here and enjoying everything while it lasts. And it feels really great.”
Bella Ishanyan is a junior at Newton South High School and editor in chief of the Newton South Lion’s Roar.