Aqeel Hisham, Portsmouth Herald
Updated ·5 min read
YORK, Maine — York High School senior Sam Hunter was at a loss for words, at least in the English language, to describe his feelings about graduating high school.
Instead, Hunter, who was also the Class of 2024’s valedictorian, said he felt “resfeber” (race-fay-ber), a Swedish word that describes the mixture of anxiety and anticipation before a journey begins.
Clad in black robes, baby blue and golden stoles, and colorful cords around their necks, 123 York High School seniors gathered one last time at Friday’s graduation.
Salutatorian Cary Drake described the class as “one of the most close-knit and enthusiastic grades that has come through York.”
Drake, who will attend Northwestern University next year, reminded her peers of “the importance of authenticity” moving forward. She said it is an “integral part” of maturing and evolving as an individual.
“It can become easy to let ourselves fall into the safety net of others’ expectations, but finding acceptance for our own characteristics, interests, and even faults is an essential step in your individual journey beyond high school,” she told her classmates in her speech. “Never succumb to somebody else’s idea of who you should be, all of us are unique and no matter where life takes you, make your path something you can look back on with pride.”
In his multilingual speech to the class, Hunter advised his peers to cherish the present, conveying them through a series of Bulgarian, Serbian, and Hindi words “ailyak,” “merak” and “jijivisha,” which essentially means living life to the fullest.
“Take time to soak in the beautiful world around you instead of letting it pass you by,” he said.
James McShera and Charlie Newton, who’ve been best friends since they were in the fourth grade, said hours before graduation that the day was “bittersweet.”
Still, the duo said that they’re ready and excited for “something fresh.”
McShera credited the tight-knit community, saying he is “lucky” and “fortunate” that the past four years have been a smooth ride for him. But looking back, the advice he would give to his younger self would be to “put yourself out there and turn your work in on time.”
Newton stated that his only major challenge in high school was English class.
“But that was just a me thing,” he joked.
This fall, McShera will attend Villanova University to study nursing while Newton will attend Trinity College to study economics. The duo hopes to keep in contact and remain best friends.
Accessorized with many colorful cords around her neck, Grace Clayton, a lacrosse player, said being involved in sports made a positive impact during her high school years. The lacrosse team, she said, kept her focused on her academics while also providing her with a “community” and “support system.”
Clayton, who said her proudest achievement was being one of the Top 10 students in the Class of 2024, plans to attend Plymouth State University this fall, where she will study nursing and continue to play lacrosse.
Co-Principal Amanda Suttie said the Class of 2024 has proven themselves through adversity by having to start high school during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she said that very challenge has equipped them with resilience and perseverance to accomplish great things.
Suttie quoted Taylor Swift, telling the Class of 2024 that they will “be remembered,” before advising them one thing as they step into their new chapter: Be kind.
“Kindness costs nothing but can change the world,” said Suttie. “…People will never forget how you made them feel. Good or bad. Your kindness can have an impact on those around you.”
More: York High School names top 10% students in Class of 2024
York High School Class of 2024
Cohen M. Arpino
Delia Jane Balakier
Jacob D. Banks
Kathleen J. Barr
Jakob Timothy Bergeron
Sophia Dylan Blake
Kyle William Breckon
Ava Belle Brent
Brandon Michael Briggs
Aidan Brogan
Lucinda Radha Brogan
Autumn Brown
Benjamin Alvin Brown
Paulina J. Bruskotter
Zoey Louise Buonaiuto
Candice Faith Bussey
Kendall Mackenzie Clark
Jolon Clarke
Grace Moran Clayton
Daniel R. Cohen
Olivia Rose Coite
Christopher Caven Connors
Emily Paige Cyr
Meghan Elizabeth Daly
Aspen Davis
Gavin Brent Davis
Sarah Deherrera
Maisy Buttercup Del Deo
Beckham Ikaika Jay Demster
Annastasia Marie Doughty
Luke W. Douris
Nora Elizabeth Dowling
Cary Elizabeth Drake
Malia Rose Dustin
Sarah Elizabeth Earley
Kyle James Edminster
Emily Joy Estes
Evelyn Elizabeth Farmer
Nathaniel Isaak Foote
Haydn J. Forbes
Jacqueline Anne Fulmer
Gabriella Nicole Galbadis
William Gardoqui
William Bud Gear
Brooke Lily Geller
Evan Robert Giacobba
Jack Richmond Goldberg
Anti Cranford Gooch
Dalton Scott Grant
Aaron Maxwell Scott Gregory
Amelia Kathryn Rose Gregory
Kirra Lynn Griffin
Brody Gullison
Brodi O'Brien Hay
Kent Hermawan
Ella Marleen Hickey
Brady D. Higgins
Philip Cole Hilbert
Rowen Elizabeth Holmes
Christopher R. Hood
John Hopkins
Nicholas Hoy
Samuel Atticus Hunter
Sophia Mae Kellogg
Molly Anne Kenealy
Silas Ketchum
McKayla Marie Kortes
Maxwell Franklin Kyer
Graham David Lamprey
Eli Chase LaPierre
Lillian Grace Cleland Leonhard
Alexander Paul Lizanecz
Stefan Kai MacGovern
Laird Augustus Masterson
Owen A. McBean
Aidan Patrick McQuaide
James Lewis McShera
Maxwell P. Merrill
Caylee Lynn Miller
Fiona Abigail Miller
Ella Jeannine Moores
Sylvia Jenn Morin
Landon Morrison
Gabriel Allen Mullins
Lila Adeline Murphy
Zachary Thomas Narcotta
James Hyde Neal
Charles Giroux Newton
John Nicolo
Donald Rivers O’Brien
Matthew Edward O’Sullivan
Benjamin N. Orso
Emily Marie Parisi
Derek Robert Parsons
Timothy Peiler
Tiffanie M Pelletier
Ashley D. Pellett
Ava June Peltz
Nathan Thomas Pfirman
James M. Pomeranz
Ryan Ridley
SamHarper Rios-Martine
Connor Scott Roberge
Benjamin Ronca
Ali M. Rutherford
Grace Elizabeth Ryder
Lorenzo Thomas Sacchetti
Yamilah Roseanna Saravong
Gwendolyn Anne Silva
Chloe Ruth Triumph Slovenski
Annika J. Sovetsky
Tia Spenlinhauer
Andrew. J. Stobe
Leo Sullivan
Devon Tozier
Evan Hunter Walley
Benjamin Ward Watson
Sean Padraig Whelton
Logan Whitney
Jaden Wilkins
Courtney E. Williams
Jason D. Woodward
Matthew William Young
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York High School graduation 2024: Grads ready for future
