Published: 6/19/2021 1:55:11 PM
For good reason, signs inside the wooden barn at Hopkinton Middle High School where graduation was held Friday night read “no smoking.”
But after Hopkinton’s Class of 2021 filed out of the barn to “Life is a Highway,” smoke floated up from dozens of lit cigars as the 73 graduates celebrated completing a major milestone after an unusually challenging senior year.
“I feel awesome,” said Madison Secore, who is headed to Plymouth University to study environmental policy. “I’m glad we got an actual graduation.”
Some of her classmates were relieved just to be done with the difficult year. “I’m excited it’s over,” Brett Crawford said while holding a cigar. During the ceremony, the senior chorus sang Elton’s John “I’m Still Standing,” drawing a few laughs from students’ families for the apt song choice. Student speakers emphasized the blessings amid finishing high school in a pandemic.
“Even though we missed out on some things, we have overcome so much,” class president Megan Haley said in her welcome speech. She thanked teachers like class advisor Kate Sintros for making an extra effort to support students.
Both salutatorian Catherine Westbrook and valedictorian Mia Richter noted Hopkinton’s high academic standards as one of New Hampshire’s top public schools.
“But what I want to focus on tonight are the quiet moments and traditions of the high school, which while they often go unnoticed, have made my time here so special,” said Richter.
Some of those moments, like outdoor jazz band practice providing a background track to physics classes, happened because of the pandemic, rather than despite it. “We seniors have created a lot of nice moments,” she said.
Along with their diplomas and white carnations, this year’s graduates received a special handmade gift: white-and-green braided leis to match their emerald robes.
After symbolically flipping a tassel to the other side of her flower-decorated cap, Brooklyn Tanuvasa was soon wearing not only a lei but a headdress and ropes of candies around her neck. Tanavusa’s mother Molly and other relatives made a lei for each student. Although graduating felt “amazing,” her celebratory regalia weighed her down. “I feel like I’m going to snap in half,” she said.
Tanuvasa’s parents met at Brigham Young University in Hawaii, her grandfather said, and the family moved to New Hampshire five and half years ago. Tanuvasa has more travel in store for the next year, which she said she plans to spend in Greece and Utah.
The rainbow of cords around Patrick Quinn’s neck signified a host of extracurricular activities and awards from the National Honor Society to Eagle Scouts. But his colorful cap, which represented the gay pride flag, racial justice, trans pride and the art of Keith Haring all on one surface had another purpose. “I did it to piss off the homophobic kids sitting behind me,” he said.
Quinn also wore a pin commemorating his victory in a baking competition, which he won with eclairs and cookies. His future has more food in it; he’s starting at the Culinary Institute of America in the fall.
The Class of 2021 is not alone in moving on to new adventures this year. Steven Chamberlain gave a keynote speech on Friday, his final one as superintendent of the Hopkinton School Board before his retirement this year.
“It was a very special graduation,” he said in his speech, choking up as he finished congratulating the class. “For the last time, please know you are the most precious of cargo.”
As families began to leave on Friday night, graduates revved truck engines in the parking lot to cheers, finding yet another way to signal pride in their achievements with clouds of smoke.
