NORTH HAVEN

After learning from their unusual high school experience, the members of the North Haven High School (NHHS) graduating Class of 2024 are prepared to persevere through the challenges of the future with resilience and hard work. Those were the sentiments on display when NHHS held its 2024 graduation ceremony on June 13.

At the ceremony, Paul Wilson-McCarthy, president of the NHHS Class of 2024, reflected on the “challenges and uncertainties” by which the high school careers of his classmates were marked.

“We began our high school journey amidst a global pandemic, facing obstacles that seemed insurmountable at times,” said Wilson-McCarthy. “Nevertheless, we adapted to remote learning, navigated through social distancing protocols, and grappled with the uncertainty of what the future held. But through it all, we demonstrated incredible resilience, determination, and perseverance.”

Wilson-McCarthy reminded his classmates that there are challenges ahead, but that they can be overcome, even in the face of seeming adversity. Even when the “competition is fierce, and the stakes are high,” as they certainly have been for this class, “there is still the need to be reminded of a fundamental truth—one that has guided us through our darkest moments,” said Wilson-McCarthy.

“Failure is not final,” he stated. “We may face rejection, disappointment, and setbacks. But failure is not the end of our journey. It is merely a stepping stone on the path to success. Failure is an opportunity to learn, grow, and become stronger than we ever thought possible.”

While possessing the “the lessons of resilience, determination, and the unwavering belief that we are capable of achieving anything we set our minds to,” Wilson-McCarthy asked his classmates to embrace the challenges and uncertainties which lie ahead and to “never forget the incredible resilience and determination that has brought us to this moment.”

“The world awaits us, and I have no doubt that we will go on to accomplish great things,” he concluded.

Brina Shah, the speaker for the Class of 2024, spoke about how her time on the NHHS tennis team was a parallel to the high school experiences of she and her fellow graduates.

“In a tennis match, you must win points to win games, games to win sets, and sets to win the match,” said Shah. “As a class, we went through many games together.”

Shah listed numerous achievements and memories of her class, from powering through virtual learning during the pandemic, school records in athletics and the performing arts, and even moments of embarrassment, yet still “thousands of hours given to supporting our community.”

“We definitely lost some games, but we pulled through to win so many of them, and we did it together. Every year, as we completed these games and another year of our high school experience, we’d win a set, getting us closer to winning the match,” she said.

As the Class of 2024 bids farewell to NHHS, the graduation ceremony merely marked the end of one of many matches which its members will face throughout their lives.

“The game of life is always in play,” she said.

“We’ll all be there. Maybe not in person, but in honor, spirit and, well, on Instagram to congratulate you,” said Shah.

Valedictorian Ava Halovatch, like her fellow speakers, thanked all NHHS faculty, friends, and families in the community for the “significant impact” they had on the graduates.

“I am so grateful to have experienced this journey with such an astounding group of people,” she said.

Like Shah, Halovatch used a sports metaphor to describe her high school experience. She recalled a significant moment of her life going back to when she was 9 years old and was struggling to execute a lay-up in basketball—something which seemed nearly impossible at first.

“After much hard work and patience, the move became simple,” she said.

Halovatch continued by expressing how that flow of events was similar to the grind of high school, representing a challenge which can always be overcome.

“We were able to complete that seemingly impossible assignment and pass that class we thought we might fail,” she said. “One day, hopefully, we can look back and realize the simplicity of the struggles we once faced. Learning to add, subtract, read, and write cursive were once our biggest obstacles. However, we now write with ease and read fluently.”

Continuing with the theme of basketball, Halovatch quoted from one of the greatest players of all-time.

“Kobe Bryant once said, ‘Everything negative—pressure, challenges—is all an opportunity for me to rise.’ I challenge you all to rise higher than the obstacles you face,” said Halovatch.

Halovatch told her graduates to approach life with a strong work ethic and a positive mindset, two things which are necessary to “get through any obstacle you encounter,” including the next steps in their lives.

“I know first-hand how hard this experience of moving onto the next phase of our lives has been. Everything is changing, which is terrifying to come to terms with. However, I also know that one day we will all reflect on this moment and agree that moving onto this next chapter, although scary, was not as difficult as we thought it would be,” said Halovatch.

“I am confident that you will all do great things, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of us,” she continued. “Wherever you decide to go, whether it be down the street or to another country, make sure to embrace the new experiences with open arms, a positive attitude, and remember that whatever barrier you face, you will get through. Congratulations, graduates. We did it!”