GRANBY — The strong bond that members of the Granby Junior Senior High School Class of 2019 have forged over the years was emphasized at the commencement ceremony Saturday morning.
“We have learned to count on each other for smiles and laughs when the going gets tough,” class President Dylan Gordon told classmates assembled for graduation in the high school gymnasium, calling the 47 graduates a “loud, enthusiastic, energetic and sometimes rebellious bunch.”
“A class this small creates a strong bond — most of us have known each other for the majority of our lives and many of us will keep this bond for the rest of our time in this world,” said Gordon, who spent the previous summer in Army basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
“During the long days, under the hot sun, I found myself missing this place,” Gordon recalled. “The memory of loving smiles from teachers to classmates echoed through my mind. The thought of these smiles made the summer days a little cooler and the drill sergeants a little less mean.”
At the end of the final chapter of their high school careers, Gordon reminded his classmates to never forget the ties that bind the Granby graduates.
“We are going our own way now, with the whole world in front of us and high school to our backs,” Gordon said. “Just remember wherever we are in life, we will always have each other.”
English teacher Jessica Swistak gave the ceremony’s commencement address, and she drew a direct correlation between one’s sense of community and health and happiness. Citing studies in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Swistak said, “the number one factor that positively influences life longevity is connection to your community.”
“Connection to one’s community is the secret to long life and happiness that we are all searching for,” she said. “Research showed that joining a club or volunteering has potentially more positive health benefits than perhaps even quitting smoking.”
Looking out into the crowd of graduates, family members and friends, Swistak said she has seen spirited displays of community from the graduating class.
She recalled how Gordon spearheaded a peaceful walkout by the entire student body last year in support of the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida; and the arts night organized by Grace Sinclair, Bridgette Archambault, Kylie Biron and Lilli Dimitropolis where they shared their portfolios with the town community; and she commended Mikaila Depin and Nora Bernash for their many hours over the years volunteering at school dances.
“As you walk across the stage today, and receive your diploma, and then walk out that door of Granby Junior Senior High School one last time, take that spirit with you,” Swistak said. “Go on to forge new bonds, join new communities, follow those passions and remain loyal and committed in all of your endeavors. But keep that Rams spirit with you wherever destiny drives you.”
Principal Stephen Sullivan described the class of 2019 as “full of character,” “rowdy,” “energetic,” and “lion-hearted.”
“This class understands the power of laughs and smiles,” he said. “Class of 2019, as you leave today, I implore you to continue to find ways to have fun, make people laugh and smile and enjoy yourselves and each other.”
Luis Fieldman can be reached at lfieldman@gazettenet.com.