PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
“Adios” reads one of the caps at the Lynn Classical graduation.
BY DILLON DURST
LYNN — Gene Constantino summed up the class of 2016 in three words: “You get it.”
The Classical High School principal kicked off commencement by encouraging graduates to continue making good decisions.
“The decisions you make will shape your future,” he said.
On Friday, the school graduated 349 seniors in the gym. Among the graduates included 46 members of the National Honor Society. Eight plan to join the military.
Don’t be afraid to fail or step outside of your comfort zone, said class valedictorian Julie Ngauv, who will attend Harvard University in the fall to study biology.
“We ourselves have the power to make a difference,” she said.
Sometimes the best memories are the little conversations classmates have with each other, she said.
“We’re all made up of little interactions we’ve had,” Ngauv added.
Superintendent Catherine Latham told graduates they’ve completed just the first leg of their journey through education. She reminded them that they’ve learned things they don’t even realize by living in such a diverse school, where 75 percent of students are minorities.
Taiese Bingham-Hickman, Friday’s keynote speaker and a 2001 Classical grad, lauded the school’s staff and teachers, and said graduates wouldn’t be sitting where they are today without their help. The New York University graduate and a vice president at Boston-based Beacon Health Options, encouraged the class of 2016 to be passionate about what they do.
“Hard work will get your foot in the door, relationships will take it to the next level,” he said.
Salutatorian Jordan Corbishley, who will attend Quinnipiac University, said Classical has provided a great foundation, but it’s up to them to build on it.
“Whatever you aspire to do, you can always do better,” she said.
Dillon Durst can be reached at [email protected].
