Though the forecast for Thursday called for brilliant sunshine and temperatures in the 70s, Principal Don Macrino was fearing the worst.
The night before Waterford High School’s graduation day, a series of violent thunderstorms slashed through the region.
Macrino, an English teacher at heart, was remembering something Mark Twain reportedly said: “If you don’t like the weather in New England, wait a few minutes.”
“Hopefully this holds up,” Macrino said, about an hour before the commencement.
It did, and on a lovely summer evening last week, 207 WHS seniors got what they have been waiting four years for—a diploma.
“I’ve gotten to know this class,” Macrino said to the 1,000 people sitting in the stands at Alumni Memorial Field. “You’re smart, you’ve got a sense of humor.
“As you go into the future, I hope you make it better.”
The class of 2008 valedictorian, Tianchi Xu, dipped into the familiar language of American history to bid his classmates goodbye.
Referencing Abraham Lincoln, Xu emphasized the “mystic chords of memory,” that bind the class together.
Xu also defined the pursuit of his classmates’ dreams as “happiness.”
Class salutatorian Anthony Chang gave a lighthearted address, giving the school administration some stick for “being one of the schools that didn’t close” during the early June heat wave.
“But we sweated it out like true Lancers,” he said.
Chang also touted the dedication of the class of 2008, noting the 80-plus hours of community service its members contributed to the community.
First Selectman Dan Steward, a WHS alumnus, reminded the graduates of the rapidly shifting world ahead of them, but gave the class a vote of confidence.
“You are the success we hope for,” he said.
As Steward concluded his remarks, a train whistle blared.
“That is your salute from Amtrak,” Macrino told the graduates.
Before the commencement, the school’s 49th, classmates assembled in the gymnasium to take pictures and exchange final hugs.
“It will be strange not seeing the same people every day,” Felicia Richard, 17, said.
Li Mei Zhang, the alphabetically penultimate name on the roster of graduates, said graduation night was “bittersweet.”
Her friend Emily Salzer was wrapped around in what looked like a permanent hug.
“It will be sad, losing contact with friends,” Salzer said. “But I’m not afraid [of the next step].”