PEABODY — Over 300 Peabody Veterans Memorial High School students received their diplomas Friday evening at Memorial Stadium.
While band director Jason Jones conducted the Peabody Veterans Memorial Concert Band in a rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the class of 2022, dressed in blue and white gowns, circled the field and took their seats. The Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard performed a flag and rifle demonstration before a moment of silence for the pledge of allegiance.
Principal Steven Magno delivered his opening remarks, where he said that his favorite part of the day was greeting students in the morning.
“Each morning I stand at the doors of the student bridge to welcome students into school. This is a practice I repeat in after school dismissal. This is the best part of my day, but I know that sometimes, this might be the best part of your day,” Magno said.
Magno also advised the class to be kind to others in the years following graduation, reminding them that kindness and empathy are just as important as success.
“As you prepare for your next journey, please remember that the challenges you have endured the past few years have given you the grit to accomplish anything. This resilience and flexibility will allow you to persevere and succeed. Through this journey, I want you to keep in mind that your actions and words affect those around you. While success is great to achieve, kindness and empathy will allow you to flourish,” Magno said.
In Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt’s remarks, he said that he was impressed with the class’ kindness to one another during their four years in high school during the pandemic.
“We are deeply impressed not only by your talent and your intellect, but by the way in which you have conducted yourselves these past four years. You have looked out for one another, during a time of great fear and uncertainty. You have demonstrated kindness, compassion, respect, and love. Each of you have represented Peabody High School with honor, integrity, and distinction,” Bettencourt said.
After Bettencourt’s speech, Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala mentioned Joseph Raymond, a graduate with perfect attendance since preschool. Josh Vadala and officials laughed as Raymond left his seat and walked across the field to shake Vadala’s hand.
“He’s getting up,” Vadala said, laughing.
When Valedictorian Benjamin Altfeld delivered his speech, he shared a piece of advice from his father, and said that time will pass regardless of what one’s doing, so it’s best not to dwell on the duration of a project.
“I want to share with you a piece of advice that my father told me: When you want to embark on a project or some journey, don’t worry about how long it will take you cause time will pass regardless of whether you start or not, and when that time passes, you do not want to worry that you should have started sooner,” Altfield said.
Altfeld also said that he initially struggled in school, and was able to excel not because of natural intellect, but because of hard work and discipline.
“Even though I was not forced by anybody to study, and I repeatedly missed out on fun in order to do so, I still dedicated time to study every night […] I fully disagree with the idea that some kids are just born smart, and naturally gifted. No matter what my parents want me to say, I was not born smart, but I was born to be a hard worker,” Altfield said.
Before the diploma presentation, in which the band played small jingles when they heard their friends’ names, Peabody Veterans Memorial Highschool Mixed Chorus and Chorale sang an a capella rendition of American Authors’ “Best Day of My Life.”
When the Class of ‘22 turned their tassels, family members blew blow horns, ran on field, and cheered for their friends and family members.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].
