By Jason Scheer
And so the Baldwin High graduating class of 2003 began their commencement ceremony on June 26, marching proudly, "Pomp and Circumstance" resonating in their ears, toward the empty folding chairs on the opposite side of the football field.
The members of the graduating class had been waiting their entire lives for this moment. "I'm very excited," said Antoinette Levy, a graduate who plans to attend Nassau Community College.
In addition to the excitement the ceremony brings, it also marks a time of sadness, as graduates part ways with the people that have defined their experiences in the Baldwin School District.
"I want to graduate because I want to get on with everything," Levy said. "But at the same time it's really sad, because you're leaving everyone behind."
The mixed bag of emotions was not carried by students alone. Some parents, like Nora and John Ngai, also saw the ceremony as both a joyous occasion and one of some sadness, as their daughter, Lara, was about to take the first major step in her adult life.
"I still remember when she was still in kindergarten, and now she is about to graduate and go to college," Nora said. "The time flew by so fast."
John agreed. "It's like shock therapy," he said. "I can't believe she's going off to college already."
He also acknowledged the fact that college is not an ending, but rather a starting point. "In a couple of years she will be on her own," he said.
"That's the scary part," Nora said.
Regina Redmond, whose son, Keith, is planning to attend SUNY Purchase in the fall, said that she saw graduation as a time to show how proud she was of her son's accomplishments.
"I'm thrilled," she said. "We're just so proud of him and glad he finally made it."
Monique Elyse Marshall, the president of the graduating class, presided over the commencement ceremony. She began her address by welcoming the parents and members of the administration. She also congratulated her fellow classmates for their hard work.
Marshall was followed by Katherine Anne Steigerwald, the salutatorian. Steigerwald began her speech with a quote from Kevin Arnold of the television show, "The Wonder Years." "Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, and the next day you're gone, but the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul," she said.
She then recounted her experiences, from kindergarten's snack time, to the move to middle school, to high school and learning to drive. She said that her experiences at Baldwin High gave her more than just the traditional classroom lessons, but also helped her gain a broader perspective of the world in which she lives.
"We not only learned about equations and formulas, but about the bigger picture," she said.
Steigerwald was followed by valedictorian Jenna DeRovira, who thanked the parents of the class of 2003 for their guidance and unwavering support throughout the tumult that defines a teenager in high school. "High school is generally a very difficult and awkward time, not only for us but for our parents as well," said DeRovira. "We thank them for supporting us through such a critical time in our lives."
James Scannell, the president of the Board of Education, also acknowledged the efforts of the parents and reminded the graduates that even though they may be leaving home, they are certainly not on their own. "I implore you to remember we will always wait for you with open arms," he said. "A firm hug from your parents will still make any problem seem smaller, and a loving kiss on the head will make any booboo hurt less."
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathy Weiss and Baldwin Senior High School Principal Susan Knors also addressed the graduates. Knors concluded the speeches by offering words of advice. "Do something," she said. "Don't just turn away or wait for someone else to make things better. Do everything you can to make a difference. That is the way to a fulfilling and happy life."
Diplomas were then presented by Scannell, the vice president of the Board of Education, Bill Edelman, and board members Mary Clark, Mary Jo O'Hagan and Robert Schoen. After all the names had been read, the Baldwin Senior High School Concert Choir sang, "America the Beautiful."
As the song wound down, eager anticipation turned to ecstatic celebration as the members of the class of 2003 threw their blue hats in the air and filed into the high school for the first time, not as students, but as graduates.
