ALISON WALLACH:
Don’t listen to anything I say, because I don’t know what I’m talking about – no one really does. We like to pretend that we know what we’re talking about, just as we like to pretend that we know what everyone else is talking about. I can’t tell you how I feel about graduation; it changes every hour, because I don’t really know what to expect. Let’s face it, we’re all a little clueless, but that’s the way we’re supposed to be. We’ve learned a lot in a little time, but there’s so much left to learn.
I’ve come to realize that you can’t find all the answers. You can’t right all the wrongs, and sometimes you may just wrong all the rights. Life’s not to be lived perfectly and paths diverge and merge and only add to the confusion, but there’s something defining and justifying within the journey of discovery. I guess I tell people that I know who I want to be and where I want to go, except I can’t really describe this person or place to you and my vision of this future changes every other day. But I’m glad I can’t, and I’m glad it does. If there’s one thing I wish for everyone, it’s that they don’t reach their settling point until an old age, because life’s about reaching for more, leaving some things less than settled.
But I don’t know what I’m talking about more than anyone else, because I’m just taking that first nervous step away from all that I’ve known, hoping I’m ready to put my theories into practice.
MARIA POCCIA:
At the end of the year in eighth grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Burke, had all of her students write letters to their future twelfth grade selves describing who we hoped to become and what we hoped to achieve by the time we graduated from North Penn. Forgetting about these letters until I went to visit Pennbrook this past winter, I scoured my mind trying remember what I would have written to myself four years ago. As I reflected on who I was then and what I would have wanted to become, I realized that trying to remember my eighth grade expectations for my future was unnecessary because who I became is someone I am proud to be. Without the academic opportunities my teachers have given me, and the friends I have made, I would not be the hardworking, confident, and loyal person that I am in the end of my senior year. So thank you North Penn, thank you for molding me into the student I’ve always strived to be, thank you for exposing me to all different types of people, thank you for giving me a group of friends who are always there for me, and thank you for helping me enter the “real-world” of college with the tools to succeed. I know that no matter what I wrote in that letter, my eighth grade self would be proud of whom I am today.
SAM BLURTON:
I find this time of the year to be comparable to reading a really good book. As you turn the page your mind reflects on what you have just read, but at the same time you are itching to discover how the story develops. Sitting here writing this goodbye the day before it is due gives me concrete evidence that I am ready for college. Sure looking back at my high school career I get a sense of nostalgia and I think of the laughs I have shared with both friends new and old. But I am hungry for the next chapter of my life to begin. Certainly when Mr. Hynes gave his life summary to seniors this week he missed some key points out. While according to Hynes we simply are born, graduate, may or may not get married, and die, he failed to mention anything about college. I can’t wait for the sense of independence given to students. With Lansdale becoming more and more boring by the day, the knowledge that in a few months I will be surrounded by a completely new environment gets my heart racing. I want to wish my fellow classmates all the best of luck next year as we begin to turn the page and open in new chapter in our lives.
JESSICA PARADYSZ:
This is it; the senior year we have been waiting for since last summer is coming to a close. One of the most exciting and memorable chapters of our lives is at the last paragraph. As I look back, I can’t help but wish greedily that there was more time to fully enjoy senior year. Of course commencement is filled with bittersweet memories but I don’t want to focus on that right now. The most important adage I have learned, perhaps more valuable than all of those notes I have written in class, is that life is what you make of it. It sounds simple and cliché, but no matter what happens, everyone has the ability to choose to be happy or miserable. The key to having an amazing senior year is not to have a perfect year, but to be grateful for opportunities, be active in school, and make the best of everything. September to June seems like an unbearable amount of time standing in between beach get –a-ways and college orientation, but the year quickly ends and just becomes another piece of the North Penn past. All of these exciting events are not memorable because of their meaning, a person makes them memorable. Thank you to all of my friends, family, and teachers who I respect and will miss. For all of the times I complained about NP’s schedule, pods, the monotony of the day, and ridiculous color schemes, I will miss this place. Graduating seniors still have a whole book to fill with amazing experiences, and it all starts now. Knowing my love for writing, I want to fill every page.
JASON CONAWAY:
When I stepped in to North Penn’s halls, I had no idea what the next three years would bring. However, if I had to go through it all again, there is no other high school that I would choose. I have met a ton of interesting people along the way and could not imagine being part of any other student body than the 3,000 strong of North Penn High School.
Although I am excited to graduate, I will never forget my time here. In my three years North Penn went through many changes, the end of homeroom, the creation of ninth period, the birth of #khakwednesday, and eventually the death of #khakwednesday. The constant change is what made it interesting, there was always something going on, from the beginning of sophomore year until the end of senior year, I am still meeting new people and making friends.
I enjoyed all three years but senior year was by far the greatest. The lack of homework was great but it was also the most eventful. Senior year brought us the state championship game, senior prom, graduation and so much more.
Thanks everybody, Friendship, Senio12s, NPTF, KC.
BRANDEN TORO:
As my time here at North Penn comes to end, a new chapter of my life begins; a new and exciting chapter that will too create its own memories. But turning the page will not be easy. So many memories have been created through my 12 years in the district. From Olympic days to writing for the Knight Crier, there are so many things I will always remember. North Penn played a big part into making me who I am today. And for that I am thankful. The only regret I have about my time here is that I was not involved as much as I should have been; which leads me to my parting advice; get involved! Play sports. Join SGA. Write for the troubadour. Don’t overwhelm yourself, but do something you know you will enjoy. I did not truly become involved in North Penn until this year, and it was the best year by far. Do not be afraid to be a part of your school. Be proud to be from North Penn. North Penn has been more than just a school to me; its become a home. A home I will miss so much.
RAY GERHART:
I loved high school, I hear many students say “I can’t wait to graduate” or “I can’t wait to get out of here” but the truth is, I can wait. I loved the three years I spent here, even though I had to get through Mr. Kratz’s and Mrs. Kavalow-Huie’s class my sophomore and junior year.
Even though some classes were challenging it was all worth it. I wish I could go back to my first day of sophomore year and start all over again. I loved spending my time after school at track making friends and memories there as well as all the memories I created my senior year.
From the beginning of the year when I skipped my grandma’s 90th birthday to go to the state championship game, to mid way through the year when #Khakwednesday was in full swing and now graduation. I will never forget being a member of the first online edition of the Knight Crier either, as I spent every 1st period with my friends and Mr. Manero, writing and reporting on things I was interested in.
Throughout the year school slowly became more like a time to hang out with friends but as the door shuts on my senior year I will never forget all of the things I learned and accomplished in these three years that went by far too fast.
Thank you North Penn, NPTF, KC, and Friendship.