By Jennifer Marino
The class of 2002 received their diplomas on June 26 and left a school that was more like a family. Teachers were like parents, helping to knot ties, and students were like siblings, some having known each other since those first days at one of Rockville Centre's five grammar schools, as noted by co-valedictorian, Jessica Stahl in her speech.
Just as many are leaving their families and Rockville Centre to go away to school, they are all leaving South Side. The students were ready to move on. "I'm going to miss it, but it's time to get out of here," said Adam Sussman.
All the students were excited and looking forward to a vacation spent with friends. Graduate Amanda Reiss explained that graduation wasn't that sad because she'll still see her friends during the next few months. "I'll cry at the end of the summer," she added.
The graduates have big plans for after graduation.
Several students will have the opportunity to express their creative sides. Reiss, a recipient of the President's Award for Educational Excellence and Art Department Honors and an International Baccalaureate Diploma, will be heading to the University of Delaware. There she plans to major in fashion design and fashion marketing. She dreams of someday being a fashion designer.
Sussman will attend Ithaca College and major in technical theater. Sussman won the Drama Department Outstanding Crew Member Award, the Drama Department Unsung Hero Award and the Drama Guild Scholarship. "I would love to end up on Broadway," he said, adding that he'd also like to work with a traveling theater company.
William Delgado plans to attend Nassau Community College to study choreography. He was inspired by Michael Jackson and Usher and he would like to make music videos in the future.
South Side High School might want to contact graduate Matthew Kashuba to cater the class of 2002's 10-year reunion. He will attend the New York Restaurant School and study culinary arts. Kashuba would like to work as a chef in Las Vegas or on a cruise ship.
Other students are taking more traditional routes at nearby colleges. Kaitlin Wall is going to Mitchell College in Connecticut. She is still undecided about her major, but would like to be lawyer. Daniel Wallace will attend SUNY Cobleskill, near Albany and study liberal arts.
Krystle Alexander is heading further north, to McMaster University in Ontario, Canada where she'll major in education.
The students hope for success in the future, but several are steering clear of definite life plans. "You can't narrow it down," said Alexander.
Felicia Riley hopes to be a nurse, but she faces more challenges than most students. She has a two-month-old daughter, Nashanti. It was the birth of her daughter and an aunt that made Riley want to be a nurse. She will attend Nassau Community College in pursuit of her dreams.
Co-valedictorian, Ben Elberger, has confidence in his fellow grads, no matter what path their lives take. "I have so much faith that we will do the things that will change the world," he said in his speech.
During Elberger's speech thunder rumbled in the background and as awards were being given out the rain drops started falling. Quickly a few drops turned into a downpour. South Side principal Carol Burris got on the microphone and said, "OK, plan B."
Guests and graduates made their way from Fireman's Field to the high school gymnasium. Once everyone was assembled in the stuffy gym, Superintendent William Johnson addressed the crowd who was now fanning themselves with their programs. "Nobody ever said it was going to be easy," he said perhaps giving the graduates the best advice no matter what their future plans.
