West Essex High School Graduates 267 On Sunday

The West Essex High School Class of 2014 graduated on a beautiful day on the High School Football Field on Sunday evening.
The 267 graduates, males in red gowns and females in white, tossed their graduation caps high into the air to celebrate their special day as family, friends and staff celebrated the wondrous occasion. Valedictorian Emily D'Elia told the graduates that "the close-knit nature of West Essex has allowed me to make friendships that I know will last a lifetime."
"In the close-knit community of West Essex, we kept the friends we had since we were five and then made new friends from the three other towns as we moved on to the middle school. We were able to have both "old" and "new" friendships.
Emily also read a portion of the Dr. Seuss book "Oh, the Places You'll Go"

“You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

It's opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry.  Don't stew.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.”

We will be moving on to bigger, brighter, and more beautiful things after graduation, but when we need a break from whatever that “opener” place may be, we can always return to West Essex, where we will be welcomed with open arms.  

 "Although I cannot say for certain what will happen in the future, I can say with confidence that the West Essex Class of 2014 will go far," Emily said. "The proof is in the amazing lives of the 267 people who sit before me. I graduate today with intellectuals, athletes, a recorded musician, dancers, actors, artists, those who will serve our country, and a cancer survivor, just to name a few. We are a talented and inspiring class, and we are sure to bring greatness unto this world. And whether it be the education, the laughs, the friendships, or the memories, that you value the most, bring a piece of West Essex with you, wherever the “places you’ll go” may be. Congratulations, West Essex Class of 2014."

Salutatorian Daniel Kenny was a bit more philosophical in his speech, talking about the meaning of life.

"Today is a beginning: the beginning of our grown-up lives, the beginning of opportunity, the beginning of a new world. I feel that for all of us, this beginning can present itself as a bit overwhelming, a bit intimidating. However, I feel that we can fully handle this new beginning and make the most of it by keeping ourselves aligned with who we are, who we’ve been molded into by the experiences we have had so far in our lives. By doing so, we can live happy, fulfilled lives.

          You know, life itself is a tricky word. Life means every action we take, every thought we think, and every motion we make. If you think about it, life is the only word with a definition that fits every single object. This right now is life. The trees that surround us are life. The traffic after this ceremony, well, some might say that sums up life. However, when we speak of life and living a full life, I believe it is important to live life in two ways: life with a heart and life with a soul."