By MADDY VITALE
The Ocean City High School Class of 2023 graduated Wednesday and like the changeable weather at the ceremony, which turned from sun and clouds to rain and back again, the 290 students learned how to adapt, overcome and persevere.
Graduation speakers spoke of how the students worked hard, were dedicated and seized opportunities, despite the challenges of spending the majority of their high school career in the COVID-19 pandemic.
High School Principal Dr. Wendy O’Neal said change was forever the constant for the Class of 2023.
“This persistent change brought about the strong character traits and reinforced the resiliency to succeed,” she said. “The class of 2023 demonstrated their perseverance through tough challenges. They exhibited an unwavering persistence to achieve and in fact followed their passions.”
The Class of 2023 can be defined and remembered for three P’s — “perseverance, passion and purpose,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal also told the graduating seniors that no matter what their expertise, they have all made personal transformations in their short time at Ocean City High School.
“I offer you a parting bit of advice: embrace the support of those who tell you, you can,” she said. “Take that change that was your constant and norm through high school and begin making your own. Share with others and make bold, positive impacts in the world.”
Families sat in the bleachers at Carey Stadium to watch their loved ones complete the major milestone.
They cheered, clapped and held congratulatory signs.
Graduating senior Charlie Costal gave spirited welcome remarks. As president of the Class of 2023, he said he has certainly worked hard and overcome challenges through the high school years.
“We survived COVID, we bought the T-shirt, and if that time in quarantine has taught us anything, shouldn’t it be to never take each other, or our shared experiences, for granted?” Costal asked.
He spoke of the high school experience as “a place full of opportunity, and now, looking back, we can see how those opportunities became cherished memories. Think of all the friends made through shared experiences.”
Costal continued, “The classes we were nervous to take … the clubs we entered as apprehensive freshmen, but left as a family of seniors. As we head off on our own distinct paths, we must remember the value of seized opportunities. We cannot allow new territory to make us timid.”
In the same vein of new beginnings, outgoing Schools Superintendent Dr. Matthew Friedman told the graduates that they will have challenges, but challenges mean they will have to “step outside of your comfort zone.”
“How do you embrace change? Stay curious. Curiosity is the key to learning and growth,” Friedman said. “Ask questions, explore new ideas and seek out challenges.”
During the middle of the ceremony, the clouds and sun turned to rain. The rain pelted the graduates and the audience that packed the bleachers and stood along the gates at Carey Stadium.
But the ceremony went on as planned.
And within minutes, the rain stopped and the sun came out and a rainbow formed – for real.
Luke Monichetti, of Sea Isle City, said shortly after graduation while celebrating with Geoffrey Shaffer, of Ocean City, “I feel great. When the sun came out, it felt symbolic for a bright future ahead.”
Throughout the portion of the ceremony in which the graduates received their diplomas, many of they smiled, some gave thumbs-up and other celebratory gestures, before shaking hands with school officials including the Board of Education members in a procession.
In the theme throughout the day and throughout the years for these graduates, perseverance was the overwhelming attribute from the young men and women who walked on Wednesday.
Graduating senior Christian Ganter told fellow graduates that, “After four years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance we are all here, finally, at graduation.”
“Now, we all know that these haven’t been the easiest four years. We started strong, with six months of uninterrupted in-person learning,” Ganter said.
He continued, “We began a new chapter in our lives, with a new sense of freedom. What could go wrong? Well, we were a rather unlucky group, having been hit with COVID before our first year had even ended, and not having had a full year in person until we were already halfway through high school.”
During some of their high school career, “We learned with Zoom. We learned with masks, and yet, with the help of our school and our teachers, we learned together, and ultimately, we made it here, we made it to this day,” Ganter reflected.
“From this point we stand at the gateways to our new, new chapter, one that has all sorts of possibilities and winding avenues of exploration and opportunity; a road that will hit us with more hardships and obstacles,” he said. “We will see curveballs we’ll have to avoid, hurdles we’ll have to leap over, and mountains we’ll have to climb. But I think we can all agree that now, we’re ready for anything.”
For a complete list of the 2023 graduates click the link: https://ocnjdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CLASS-OF-2023-1.pdf
