W.T. Clarke seniors graduate with lessons of friendship

The graduating seniors at W.T. Clarke High School have grown closer over the past four years, conversed in group chats and formed bonds that extended beyond the classroom.

“We all come from the same primordial ooze of middle school and we all had the same opportunities offered to us when we walked through the doors of high school,” said Valedictorian Aashini Shah described in her speech to her peers. Success was possible, Shah added, because the student body worked together and supported on another.

“When I looked a her doing a speech in front of the students, the class of 2018, I was so proud of her,” said Shahs father Samir.

Rasheda Khan shared a similar sentiment about seeing her son Pantho Sayed give his speech. She said that she was amazed to hear him attribute his success to his parents, friends and teachers. "It was one of the best days I ever had,” she said. “I was very happy to see that my son's hard work, dedication, and effort paid off for him.”

Sayed congratulated his peers as well, saying, “Everyone of you have unique qualities. Some of you are pro athletes with unrivaled physical abilities, which hatches from dedication, teamwork, and responsibility, all skills that are crucial in life. Others have really creative minds for creating artwork and music, with a knack for performance and impressing an audience. A few of you are skilled in academic subjects, doing scientific research on oxy-ribo-chromo-synthetic di-poly-mono-butane or some other crazy chemical compound, or in math, English, and history.”

Students were recognized for such achievements during a district-wide award ceremony on June 18, with some receiving awards for athletics, others for success in music and others for academic success. 

Jennifer Corr contributed to this story.