As the seniors approach their graduation from Townsend Harris High School, they prepared for their final walk as high school students at graduation practice on June 4. Looking back at the memories they have made, seniors offered insight on their remarkable experiences throughout their time at THHS.
To prepare the seniors for a very special day in their lives, senior advisor Blayne Gelbman guided them through the process of graduation. He shared with us how it goes: “It’s pretty much the same every year, we line them up in alphabetical order, we teach them how to walk into the auditorium, there’s a kinda special way to sit and go. And how to walk across the stage.”
As a teacher, Mr. Gelbman shared his emotions that surfaced as he watched some of his students practice for graduation: “Pride, a little bit of sadness, but overall happiness that they’re going, spreading their wings and I had a lot of them as freshman during the pandemic so to see a third of that class being ready to graduate is a nice feeling.
He left a word of encouragement for the class of 2024, “If you can do anything, be kind.”
Senior Vaashine Premathayalan, who is going to Babson College, had very memorable moments within this school. “Some core memories from over the years are certainly SING and FON. The actual performances of course, but mainly the days before where everyone is staying late at school, practicing together and creating such a lovely bond. Being surrounded by people who truly make you happy and stressing with them before the show day was genuinely most memorable. These days made me feel a sense of worth and belonging and made being at Townsend worth it.”
She also shared her emotions when practicing for her senior graduation. “The graduation rehearsal was the final peak of realization that it’s over. It was simply sad, practicing walking across the stage knowing we aren’t going to see most of these people ever again. It was a bittersweet feeling.”
Senior and features editor Aiden Clarke, who is attending Williams College this fall, also shared his favorite times as a student in THHS. “I think a core memory is all the times in senior year when sitting in the third floor hallway with my friends. The conversations we had and the laughs we shared there are something I will never forget.”
Senior Alejandro Cardona, who is entering the National Guard, said that “grad practice felt surreal.” He had this advice to leave for underclassmen: “don’t even bother getting yourself into trouble in this school.”
As for graduation practices, he said “Practicing for graduation makes me realize that my name at Townsend is actually coming to an end. After four years of knowing, and becoming close with the same people, it’s time to embark on a new chapter. It’s scary and sad to think about sometimes but also exciting.”
Aiden shared some advice for underclassmen: “Sometimes you could get wrapped up into thinking about the future and what’s next, and while preparing for the future is good, sometimes it’s good to just take a step back and enjoy what’s happening now. Have fun and don’t let the experiences and memories you make in high school pass by you,” he said.
