PHOTOS: West Essex Regional High School Graduates Class of 2015

The West Essex High School community bid farewell and good luck to the class of 2015 during its annual commencement ceremony on June 19.

A total of 252 seniors received their diplomas.

Read the class valedictorian and salutatorian speeches below.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Rubinich

VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH: AKASH GAMI

My name is Akash Gami and it is a great honor for me to speak in front of you as the valedictorian of the Class of 2015.

I would like to start out by thanking my family, friends, and teachers who have helped me get to where I am now. I would also like to thank Principal Mr. Suda, Superintendent Ms. Longo, the Board of Education, and the rest of the administration for providing us with the opportunities to succeed. Also, I would like to acknowledge all the parents in the stands for all the work they’ve put in and all the sacrifices they’ve made to get us to this point—making sure we got to the bus on time, asking us for the thousandth time if our homework was done before we went to hang out with our friends, or making sure we weren’t taking selfies like Steph when we should be studying. Know that what you’ve done for us all these years has made a difference. If it wasn’t for your support, we may not have been graduating here today.

So, Class of 2015, this is it! We made it! All those late night lab reports and English essays that we technically weren’t supposed to do last minute have paid off. How did all these years go by? It seems like just the other day I was nervously walking for the first time on the old Travis field as a fifth grader. We took a picture in the shape of 2015 right over there to my left. Graduation seemed so far away at the time. Little did I know that the people I was sitting with on the stands that day would become some of my closest friends. And now, seven years later, here we are, about to officially become graduates of West Essex High School.

But before we become Knights for life, let me share something that I learned just this past weekend. My goal in life is to live like a hermit crab. No, I’m not crazy. I actually think they are one of the coolest animals to have as a pet. Hermit crabs tend to be quiet and mostly stay in their cages. But what is most interesting about them is that in order to move forward, they must physically extend their legs and bodies from their shells. In many ways, I am already like a hermit crab. I too tend to be quiet and keep to myself, and yet I know that in order to succeed in life and reach my potential, I must also step out of my shell and into the real world.

West Essex provided us with those tools we need to succeed in life. West Essex provided us with a welcoming environment to share our ideas and discover our strengths. We’ve heard stories of people achieving their dreams. Dreams ranging from being selected for music concerts, to placing first in academic competitions, to shattering long-standing athletic records. We are just filled with a wide array of talents. As a class, we’ve spent more than 5,000 hours together in high school. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? 5,000 hours. But this is what has allowed us to form bonds that we will cherish for our lifetimes. We, the class of 2015, have laughed, struggled, loved, cried, and matured together.

And now, our journey together ends here. Soon we will be removing our red and white armor and rising high into the night. As we get ready to move on, we say farewell to the life we have grown to know so well over the years. We say farewell to the place where we shared so many memories together. We say farewell to the faculty, to each other, and to the classes under us. However, let’s try not to think too much about how our journey together is ending. Instead, let’s focus on the new journeys that we are about to begin. I know that each and every one of us has what it takes to push boundaries and succeed in whatever endeavors we choose to pursue. As you work towards your goals, you will inevitably run into challenges. But it’s important for us to remember that we will always have the support of one another as the foundation of our future.

Aim to live like a hermit crab. We can’t move ahead if we are hiding inside our shells.

Congratulations West Essex Class of 2015.

SALUTATORIAN SPEECH: ISABELLE DE BRABANTER

My name is Isabelle De Brabanter and I am thrilled and honored to represent our class as Salutatorian. High school graduation is a huge milestone and accomplishment, but it would not be possible without the help of some very influential people. I would like to give thanks where it is rightfully due: to the many inspiring teachers who have shaped us from children into young adults, to administration for giving us an incredible facility to learn, and to our families for always offering love and guidance. Mom, Dad, and Katie Joy, I do not have powerful enough words to express my gratitude for your support. And Grandma, thank you so much for flying all the way from Florida to hear me speak tonight.

When I sat down to write this speech, I began to reflect on my past 4 years at West Essex. We started high school as freshmen, the bottom of the totem pole, and now we end as grown men and women. Today not only marks the end of the beginning, but the beginning of a new future. This class is filled with thinkers and problem solvers, athletes, artists, musicians, and volunteers - so whatever the future holds- as West Essex graduates, we will be prepared. As we each plan to take different paths in life, whether by attending college, entering the workforce, or bravely joining the armed forces, we must remember that our journey started here. And although sometimes we have no idea where we are going; we just have to let life take us there.

In my favorite novel, Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, Jane says, “I am a free human being with an independent will”. As we, the class of 2015, make our way into the world, we must exercise this free will to better ourselves and our community.

Our graduating class is a special one. We have already lived in two different centuries, across two millennia, and most of us are only 18 years old. Our childhood has been characterized by an exponential boom in technology. In a world that is so connected over social media and the internet, it is extremely important to also establish real life connections. In my life, I have had a friendship where tools like Facebook and Instagram were meaningless. This friend was my grandfather. He was a part of The Greatest Generation and to me, he truly was a great man. From him, I have learned to take obstacles as they come. To always outsmart your opponent. To love others unconditionally, especially family. My grandpa built an impressive life: through hard work and dedication he was able to attend Columbia University while serving in the Navy. Luckily, he passed down the memories of these life experiences to me, so that I could learn and grow from them. Grandpa was always the one to emphasize the importance of school and academic success. He instilled within me a drive to push beyond expectation that I could not have come this far without. Tonight, I attribute my academic achievement to him, and although he is no longer with us, I know deep in my heart that he is so proud of how far I’ve come.

When I think about what tonight signifies, I immediately flash to the quote that is painted in the hallway of the 400s wing. It is by Henry David Thoreau, and it reads, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” My fellow graduates, this is exactly what we have done. Our four years of high school are over, we did it, our foundations are complete. The Class of 2015 has left behind a legacy that is undeniable. All we need to do now is to build upon our sturdy grounding and reach for the stars. Anything is possible.