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JUNE 7, 2018
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880
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Valedictorian: Let’s give everyone a chance
B R C
V
I too would lik e to greet all the
members of the audience. L et
me begin with a collective thank
you to every mother, father,
step parent, aunt, uncle, sibling,
grandparent, and neighbor. To
every teacher, substitute, para-professional,
guidance counselor,
and administrator, we
recogniz e, appreciate, and honor
the roles you’ve played in all our
lives, whether big or small.
hile I am proud to be valedictorian,
I have found it particularly
puz z ling that I ’ve been
subject to numerous ridiculous,
and often humorous, rumors.
Perhaps it’s because I ’m somewhat
qu iet in class and neglect
to show my true self as much
as some of you do. I n Spanish
class last year, my favorite misconception
was revealed to me.
One of my fellow classmates
was dumbfounded when he
learned that I do more than just
schoolwork when class ends for
the day. “ W ait! So you don’t
lock yourself in your room and
study all night? ” he aske d me. I
didn’t know whether to believe
him or laugh hysterically, but
regardless, I can assure you all
the bit about me studying 24/ 7
is just a rumor.
The nex t misconception is the
idea that I only have book smarts
and completely lack common
sense... ok ay . . . that one may be
somewhat true, according to my
mom... moving on!
y que stion to all of you is
why do these rumors form?
How can such outlandish, and
often untrue, stories form so
qui ckl y and spread lik e wildfire?
I t’s because we all judge
others much too q uickl y. W e
observe from a distance the way
people dress, the way they wear
their hair, the way they speak,
the company they ke ep. W e
judge people without getting
to know them first. W e make
assumptions, share our assumptions,
and allow others to contribute
their own assumptions.
Christine Bucci Carpenter ,
Realtor ® 617-538-9396
PVMHS Valedictorian Ryan Cormier hopes his classmates will remain open-minded.
Now, let’s go back in time for a
moment. On this very land, over
3 2 0 years ago, 2 0 people died.
This particular group of people
did not die of old age or medical
conditions, but because of incorrect
assumptions. The Salem
itch Trials were not only fueled
by fear, but also by greed,
jealousy, and misunderstanding
of the unk nown. G uilty until
proven innocent, some accused
were sentenced to death because
of the way they acted, the way
they spok e, what they believed
in, and what they owned. I t just
goes to show how simple and
seemingly harmless misconceptions
can result in tragedy.
I would be lying to all of you
if I said that I haven’t judged
someone on face value. I n fact,
a particular friend of mine who
I ’ve become ext remely close
with over the course of high
school ( he know s who he is)
wasn’t much of a friend when
I began my PVM HS career.
e weren’t friendly in middle
school; therefore, I didn’t know
him personally. I n fact, I viewed
him as annoying because of his
actions, his comments, and previous
assumptions about him. I
remember freshman year, I was
ext remely displeased when he
sat next to me on the bus for a
school trip; I wanted no part of
him. L ittle did I know that he
was a complex individual and
that we had much in common.
Fast forward almost four years
later; he is one of the few people
I can talk to earnestly because
he is a true friend; a friend that
I wouldn’t have right now if I
neglected to reserve my judgments
years ago.
F. Scott Fitz gerald, in his
novel The G reat G atsby, wrote
that “ Reserving judgements is a
matter of infinite hope.” M y interpretation
of his words is that
the longer you resist judging or
labeling someone, the lik elier
you are to find the positive in a
Northrup Associates
The Home Team
Congratulations 2018 Graduates!
Proud to be a Lynnfield High Alumni
person and associate yourself
with them. Association leads to
understanding, connection, and
eventually friendship. I f we all
learn to reserve our judgments,
we will have the potential to
open doors that lead down roads
previously unimaginable. That
person you viewed as weird,
nerdy, or q uiet, may just become
your best friend or your connection
to your dream job; they may
even save your life one day.
I don’t feel guilty for misjudging
my friend; rather, I
believe it is human nature to
make immediate judgments that
reflect our first impressions.
However, the earlier we learn
to reserve our judgments, the
brighter our futures may be,
futures that flourish with connections
and friendships. Take
me, for instance one last time;
although I may study a bit more
than the next guy and prefer to
listen rather than openly participate
in class, I am equa lly com-
PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK
plex as all of you. And whether
I ’m playing Super Smash B ros.
on game nights, going head to
head with my buddies in a game
of floor hocke y, playing soccer
with my team, performing with
the band, or hitting the books ,
I really am just like all of you.
So, Class of 2 018, I ask that
you hold on to my advice and incorporate
it into your own lives.
As someone who has judged and
been judged, I assure you that our
lives will be undeniably better if
we remain open minded, optimistic,
and infinitely hopeful for
the best possible outcome. Simply
put, let’s give everyone a chance.
Now, allow me, your local
street smart-deficient and academic
hermit, to transition all
of us to the nex t chapter of our
lives. Farewell everyone, and
once again; thank you to everyone
in the audience. W e could
have never reached this great
accomplishment without you.
Congratulations Class of 2 018.
Tom and Sharon Gould
wish all the 2018 Graduates
the best and brightest future!