When they first got to high school, Barack Obama was just a freshman Senator, Bernie Madoff was just a financial advisor and BP was just another gas station.
Massapequa High School's class of 2010 has seen the world change in a short amount of time and now they're going to go out and help shape it.
The class gathered for the final time Monday night as they celebrated their 54th annual commencement at Hofstra University.
Find out what's happening in Massapequafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Our adulthood, so long anticipated, has now arrived," said Valedictorian Katelynn Boland as she addressed her classmates.
"We have grown up. We must seize our future and taking it into our own hands, do with it what we will, striving towards excellence. Don't look back, just look forward; trust yourself, and most importantly, enjoy the ride."
Find out what's happening in Massapequafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Boland, who won the school's Highest Award of Excellence for having the top grade point average and the English award, urged her fellow students to face their fears as they go out into the world.
"The future is definitely a scary and uncertain portion of our lives that we are now about to enter," she said. "But with all of our possibilities, the future better watch out. "
Other award winners included: Andrew Malmgren for social studies; Justin Dong for mathematics; Gayle Geshwind for science; Gabriella Papale for world languages; Thomas Savidge for business education; Diana Imbriano for family and consumer sciences; Jason Kammerer for music; Steven Fusco for technology; Michael Morgan for art; Joseph Calder and Caitlin McKenna for physical education; and Zachary Rose and Andrea Arnold for athletics.
Taylor Wolfson won the award for general excellence and also delivered the salutatorian speech.
She told the class that they can always remain friends thanks to modern communication such as texting.
"Unlike our parents, we don't have to walk ten miles in the snow to see a friend, or keep everyone off the phone as we wait for a call," she said.
"That's why, as much as everyone may be upset about leaving behind their friends and familiar ways as they go on to the next point in their lives, in reality, there is nothing to worry about."
The 640 graduates received their diplomas and the ceremony ended with the traditional call of "Class dismissed!" which closes every commencement exercise.
As Boland said to close her speech, "Remember, this is not a goodbye, but a simple “see you later.”
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
