NAUGATUCK — Naugatuck High School Class of 2017 Valedictorian P.J. Morrissey draws motivation from a desire to see a positive outcome in everything he does, and there have been quite a few good results.
Aside from being at the top of the class, Morrissey is the class president, a National Merit Scholarship recipient, and found success as a member of the school’s DECA chapter and boys swimming and tennis teams.
“Seeing the end product from all the stuff I am involved in really keeps me motivated to keep doing things. All the good things that happen through DECA, through sports, through class officers, making people happy, helping others. That’s what really keeps me going, and I love doing it,” said Morrissey, who is headed to Harvard University in the fall.
Morrissey and his 289 classmates celebrated one final positive outcome together on June 14 as the Class of 2017 culminated its four years at Naugatuck High with graduation.
As Morrissey delivered the valedictorian address, he looked over his classmates seated on Veterans Field and told them their time at Naugatuck High made them better people.
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“We are having a tough time saying goodbye to each other because these bonds are so strong. Each of us has become smarter, wiser, stronger and tougher. Even if you aren’t willing to admit it, Naugatuck High School has helped us to grow. I believe we have one of the most incredible schools in the state, and I believe this class, the Class of 2017, is one of the most remarkable classes ever to pass through this school,” Morrissey said.
Salutatorian Justin Lastra said every graduate has the potential for greatness in their lives.
“I am not saying we have to cure cancer or bring about world peace to do something great. Greatness is relative to the person, the situation, and a myriad of other factors. For me, greatness is being kind above all else,” Lastra said.
Lastra recalled a moment of greatness from his first day of kindergarten when he was frightened to go to school. As a scared young child, he said it was a teacher who eased his concerns and made him feel welcome.
“She is one of the reasons I want to be an elementary school teacher. She made me feel like I was home and I want to provide that for other kids,” Lastra said.
Class Essayist Tyler Deitelbaum compared the class’ journey through Naugatuck High School to the journey of those who founded America.
“We arrived the first day of freshman year, which seems just like yesterday, faced with a new school, a new environment, and a whole lot of work ahead of us. Even so, we prevailed. We took test after test, completed assignment after assignment. At the end of four years we went through everything imaginable, both good and bad,” Deitelbaum said.
Deitelbaum encouraged his classmates to continue to use the lessons they learned at the school.
“We do not live in a perfect world. We live in times of love and hate, both of which we learned to experience at Naugatuck High School. When the time comes, which it will, know that you are prepared and ready to take on the world to make it a better place,” Deitelbaum said.
In the farewell speech, graduate Nicole Crowley pointed out how fast the time went by.
“We began school as children and are leaving as adults. We have completed an education that will serve as a platform we can use to launch ourselves into our futures,” Crowley said.
Whether going to college, joining the workforce, or enlisting in the armed forces, Crowley told each graduate to travel their own path.
“I hope we will all give it our all and travel down the path we’ve dreamed about for years,” Crowley said.
Class of 2017 Vice President Tyler Suarez recalled a time four years earlier when the class was moving up from City Hill Middle School to Naugatuck High. He remembered standing before the class at City Hill’s graduation with his guitar and playing Green Day’s “Time of Your Life.”
Last week, Suarez once again turned to Green Day in his final message to the class.
“I’m not proud of you, I’m proud of us. Whether we’re going into the world to work, joining the armed forces, going to community college or entering the college of our dreams, only one thing matters. … No matter where life takes you, no matter how many turning points or forks stuck in the road, I hope you all have the time of your life,” Suarez said.
