South grads encouraged to dream big

See more photos from the ceremony here.

The field at Valley Stream South High School may have been dampened due to heavy rainfall in the afternoon on June 22, but the spirits of the more than 200 graduating seniors and their friends and family who packed the school’s cafeteria were not.

South held its 55th annual commencement ceremony on the rainy afternoon, marking the last time that the seniors would enter the school as students. The boys wore red gowns while the girls were in white, but everyone had smiles on their faces as the precession began.

Principal Maureen Henry kicked off the ceremony by telling the hundreds of people in the crowd that 100 percent of the senior class would be graduating that day. Earlier in the year, Henry said, she asked each of the seniors to write down their life’s dream, and she asked her students to keep after them even after they graduate. “I want you to always keep to that dream and dream big,” Henry said. “Please know that it is OK to change your dream, just never stop dreaming.”

South’s co-salutatorians Mariyam Qureshi and David Li each addressed the crowd with unique speeches about their time in high school. Then it was valedictorian Mitchelle Joseph’s turn to step up to the podium where she urged her classmates to continue to work hard even after they’ve left South. “We’re here, aren’t we?” Joseph said to her fellow seniors. “Years in one building and we’ve made it all the way to the end. What do you imagine can stop us now?”

Board of Education Vice President Tony Iadevaio told the graduates they can achieve anything in their future endeavors. “Enjoy the challenges,” he said, “because South and your family have given you the necessary fundamentals to prepare you to take on the world and be a success as a contributing member of society.”

During their time as class advisors, teachers Elizabeth Escobar and Paulette Lowe grew close with the class of 2012. Both Escobar and Lowe delivered teary-eyed speeches to the graduates. “Although selfishly, my days at South will not be the same without seeing your smiles in the halls,” Escobar said, “I am truly excited for your next endeavors.”

One by one the graduates walked on stage and took their diplomas with flashbulbs and cheers coming from the audience. When they reached their seats next they had officially graduated. Senior class President Vincent Cavello told his classmates to soak it all in during his speech. “We spend all of our time planning for someday,” he said, “working for the future, for what’s to come. That someday, has become today.”