Apponequet graduates urged to say 'yes' to life
Caps went flying as graduation ceremonies ended. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
New graduates Leah McGee, left, Amelia Menendez shared smiles and emotional hugs when the ceremony ended. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
As Principal Kahlan Dessert looks on, class president Ryan O'Connor leads his class in moving their tassels from right to left, signifying the transition from student to graduate. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
Class officers, from left, Ryan O’Connor, Molly McCarthy, Scarlett Teixiera, Amelia Menendez Photo by Liv Henriques 
Valedictorian Luca Rubini address the audience. Photo by Liv Henriques 
Salutatorian Ashna Kantamkulathy spoke of writing new chapters. Photo by Liv Henriques 
Select choir members, from left, Patrick Erwin, Fiona Boren, Braley DiCarlo and Mia Furtado perform. Photo by Liv Henriques 
Graduates, from left, Casimiro Santos, Evan Ferreira, Nathan Faucher and Jackson Iafrate celebrate. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles 
An inspirational cap message. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Caps went flying as graduation ceremonies ended. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
New graduates Leah McGee, left, Amelia Menendez shared smiles and emotional hugs when the ceremony ended. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
As Principal Kahlan Dessert looks on, class president Ryan O'Connor leads his class in moving their tassels from right to left, signifying the transition from student to graduate. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Class officers, from left, Ryan O’Connor, Molly McCarthy, Scarlett Teixiera, Amelia Menendez Photo by Liv Henriques
Valedictorian Luca Rubini address the audience. Photo by Liv Henriques
Salutatorian Ashna Kantamkulathy spoke of writing new chapters. Photo by Liv Henriques
Select choir members, from left, Patrick Erwin, Fiona Boren, Braley DiCarlo and Mia Furtado perform. Photo by Liv Henriques
Graduates, from left, Casimiro Santos, Evan Ferreira, Nathan Faucher and Jackson Iafrate celebrate. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
An inspirational cap message. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
LAKEVILLE -- Some students fight for class rank. Others grapple to reach graduation.
But their newly minted diplomas now have equal value, Apponequet Regional High School Principal Kahlan Dessert told the new graduates at their graduation Friday, June 5.
“You have the same diploma,’’ she said. “The same ability to thrive.’’
The graduates no longer compete with each other, Dessert noted. But competition hasn’t ended.
Going forward, Dessert said, the competition is to “the best version of yourself.''
She urged the graduates to take chances, to try new things, to get involved in their issues and with their passions.
“I imagine that yes is the only living thing,’’ she said, quoting poet e.e. cummings.
Life can also be messy, but that can lead to beautiful opportunities, Dessert said.
Again quoting cummings, she noted that “the world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.’’
Class salutatorian Ashna Kantamkulathy drew on her love for literature as she noted that graduation represents “the closing of this chapter.’’
But that is not the end of the book of life.
Now the new graduates of the Apponequet Regional High School Class of 2026 will write their own stories as they head out into the world that awaits them.
