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Published by Halston Media, 2021-07-07 20:00:52

North Salem Graduation Guide 2021

Congratulations
Class of 2021

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO
JULY 1, 2021

PHOTO: EMRIN LECLAIR

Page 2 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – July 1, 2021

KENNEDY CATHOLIC

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Home of tHe GaeLs

Congratulations To Your
Graduating Seniors!

Brendan Herbstritt Brendan Liddy Abigail Mascia

Brian Tolan Isabella Trainor Paul Wu

Kennedy Class of 2021 Graduates from North Salem

KennedyCatholic.org | (914) 232-5061 | 54 Rt. 138, Somers, NY 10589

July 1, 2021 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 3

Congrats to the
North Salem
High School
Class of 2021!

Isabella S. Arias Stella Dawn DiDomenico Sydnie Jacobsen Allison Outhouse Lexi Staebler
Isabel Bartels Kiara Donovan Ruba Jamal Danielle Rose Pakula James Carlos Torres
Adrianna Marie Beers Miriam Annie Turkynak
Ashley Binette Isabel Grace Dundon Ava Morrisa Jolley Gabriella Pelosi Hailey Rose Videla
Lauren Brown Noah Elias Dagny Junghans Cole Henry Pockriss
Matthew Liam Buchanan Henry Wolfe Junghans John C. Vilkelis
Amelia Shea Bueti Sean Michael Ely Gabriella M. Posa Mark Vito
Mia Castellano Jane Lillian Fetterolf Gleb Kozlov Jillian Christine Rei
Kyle Joseph Castellon Camille Grace Flayhan Connor Bryce Edington Kravit Aidan Achille Volpe
Ryan James Cindrich Grace Anne Fogle Kristen Reiss Madison Brooke Vrabel
Andrew Costas Anthony Joseph Foglia Katherine R. Lenahan Matthew Robert Renda
Anthony Curro Paul George Lulaj Shane Waldron
Juliette Emma Daigneault Helena Fox-Mills Tomas Rodriguez Tiaura Walker
Eric Anthony D’Amato Timothy Joseph Gallagher Antonia Marie Macera Meaghan Elizabeth Sabino Katherine Westin
Krista DeModna Tyler Anthony Golisano Madison Caroline Martabano Ian Woloshyn
Alexandra DePaoli Marcus James Sarno Jacob Hudson Yoel
Jovani Diaz Conrad Andrew Good Nicholas Mastrandrea Catherine Jo Senatore
Alexander J. Gordon Paula Mejia Juliet Antonia Serra is list was provided by North
Ang Chhiring Sherpa Salem Central School District.
Lily Guiliano Jennah Mohammad Adrianna Elizabeth Spagnuolo
Ellen Herlihy Luke Murtagh Brianna Marie Spagnuolo
Aidan omas Houlihan Christina Michelle Spagnuolo
Daniel E. Nesbitt
Christian Norberto

NSHS valedictorian Mark Vito NSHS salutatorian Ava Jolley

WHAT ACTIVITIES WERE HOW DOES IT FEEL WHAT ACTIVITIES WERE HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE
YOU INVOLVED IN AT TO BE NAMED YOU INVOLVED IN AT NAMED SALUTATORIAN?
NORTH SALEM HIGH VALEDICTORIAN? NORTH SALEM HIGH
SCHOOL AND IN THE SCHOOL AND IN THE When Mr. DiGrandi told me
COMMUNITY? It de nitely feels satisfy- COMMUNITY? that I was salutatorian,I thought
ing to receive recognition he was joking. I never thought

I was involved in many activi- for the work I’ve put in over At North Salem, the that I would be named salutato-

ties. At school, I was part of the the years. What’s most im- most signi cant activity I’ve rian -- it didn’t even sink in until

Model UN club, I was a mem- portant is that I made sure been involved  in has been about an hour later. My entire

ber of almost all of the National PHOTO COURTESY everything I did to get here the cross-country and track PHOTO COURTESY life, my family has ingrained the
Honor Societies and held some OF MARK VITO ful lled a purpose for me teams. I’ve run on the indoor OF AVA JOLLEY values of academics and educa-

o cer roles in them, I was on the Varsity personally and those that I try to help. and outdoor track teams since 8th grade, tion, so it’s such an honor to be recognized

soccer team, I wrote a little bit for the school I learned a lot in my journey to get to and I  started varsity cross-country my for my hard work throughout the years. 

newspaper,and I played trumpet in the band this point, which alone has made middle freshman year. Since junior year, I’ve been

until this year. I would’ve loved to continue, school and high school worth it. co-captain of these teams. Running with WHERE WILL YOU BE ATTENDING
the North Salem team means a lot to me; COLLEGE? WHAT WILL YOU BE
but it couldn’t t into my schedule. I would it really de ned my high school experi- MAJORING IN? HOW DID YOU
ence. Apart from running, I’ve also been ARRIVE AT THAT DECISION?
like to pick it back up this summer.I also did WHERE WILL YOU BE ATTENDING

lots of volunteering, in places like the Ruth COLLEGE? WHAT WILL YOU BE
MAJORING IN? HOW DID YOU
Keeler Library and Putnam Hospital, and in ARRIVE AT THAT DECISION? involved in Model UN since freshman I’ll be attending Columbia University
community events like Keep Somers Clean,
year. Sophomore year, I was inducted to next year. Right now, I’m planning on

food and clothing drives. ey were all very I will be attending Stony Brook the National Honor Society, where I was majoring in political science. ere were a

ful lling experiences and contributed to my SEE VALEDICTORIAN PAGE 4 service project coordinator my junior year SEE SALUTATORIAN PAGE 4
personal growth. and president this year.

Page 4 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – July 1, 2021

VALEDICTORIAN FROM PAGE 3 SALUTATORIAN FROM PAGE 3 who has inspired me throughout my high school ca-

University, on the pre-med track, pursuing a major in Biology with probably reer -- both as my track/cross-country coach and my
a minor that I haven’t decided on yet. My decision to attend SBU was based
on their great offerings and opportunities for students who intend to go to lot of factors that went into my college decision. AP Lit teacher. He has not only been such an in-
med school, its opportunities for collaboration with Brookhaven National
Laboratory, and its affordability.   Columbia has always been my dream school, even credible source of support, but has changed the way

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOURTIME AT when I was a little girl living in NYC. I love being I think about the world. Dr. K always says that AP
NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL?
in cities, and Manhattan is one of my favorite places Lit will “change our lives” -- and even though we’re
I’ll always remember dearly everything I did at the school. The Model
UN trips always had so many fun moments, especially that time Mr. Di- in the world; the campus is absolutely beautiful; and all somewhat skeptical, I truly believe that I would
grandi mentioned at graduation when I crashed my friends’committee.All
of the school trips, eating lunch with friends every day and joking around, I’ve always loved that Columbia encourages diver- not be the person I am today without that class. As
and being in class with my friends were all highlights of my time at the
school. Every day was filled with nice moments. sity of thought. What really cemented my decision someone who’s very type-A, I’ve always been very

ARETHERE ANYTEACHERS WHO INSPIRED YOU? was meeting some of the students. I’ll be running focused on seeking affirmation from others, some-
Of course.There were many. Mrs. Drumm is a wonderful, kind teacher
on the Columbia cross-country and track teams thing that’s held me back for almost my entire high
who always made learning a new language and culture, something that
can be pretty stressful, something that was easy and relaxing. She accom- next year, so I was able to meet the team over Zoom school experience. By teaching me this year to re-
modated us whenever we needed help and has a true passion for teaching,
and for building up the students. I will always have a passion for French -- and I absolutely loved all of them. They felt like ject affirmation, he’s empowered me to overcome
because of her. Mr. Chisholm was also a great teacher who fostered a lot
of learning in his classes. Everything from the prompts we responded to my people, and I was struck with the overwhelming my shyness, to follow my own values instead of
at the beginning of class, to the books we read, to the Socratic seminars,
to the jokes kept his class engaging and encouraged us as 10th graders to sensation of belonging. Compounded with the fact the values of others, and unapologetically do the
think deeply about life and human nature. Mr.Chamberlain is another ex-
ceptional teacher who made the process of learning new and difficult con- that Columbia has great athletic facilities (I love the things that feel right to me. In addition, his lessons
cepts easy because he truly cared about our learning and would go to great
lengths to make easier our understanding of math. Mr. Regan’s classes and Armory, our indoor track!) and amazing coaches, about achieving success -- controlling one’s interior
teaching were phenomenal and helped me to learn more about our com-
plex and interesting world in a fulfilling way. Mrs. Valenti, who also truly Columbia was the place for me.  monologue, creating intensely specific goals, forcing
made learning fun. She is a caring teacher, and I’ll always remember why
there are seasons and what causes the Coriolis Effect. And what igneous our subconscious thoughts to be positive instead of
rocks look like! Finally, Mr. Saverese. He made learning history exciting
with the projects and activities he did in his class. He certainly inspired me WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM negative -- are lessons that I think are crucial to my
to continue to research and learn about history.
YOURTIME AT NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL? journey next year. Most importantly, he has forced
None of the qualities I listed above are exclusive to one of those teach-
ers. They all share many of them, which is why they’re so excellent. All of Some of my favorite memories in North Salem are us to think about what truly matters in life. 
these wonderful teachers were artful in their teaching and made it a joy to
be in class.That alone facilitated a lot of learning and provides me with the from the Model UN trips,when we either traveled to
encouragement to continue learning. 
Yale or Harvard to attend conferences. Not only do I WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FORTHE FUTURE?
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FORTHE FUTURE?
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? love meeting people from different states and coun- WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?

My goals in the future are to continue to excel in my undergraduate tries, debating global issues, and finding cool new Right now, when I think about the future, I’m
studies, go to medical school, and specialize in a surgical specialty. Neuro-
logical surgery is particularly interesting to me with all the new technologi- places to eat in the cities -- but it is such a fun experi- mostly focused on college. I like to take things one
cal developments and research being done in neurology and neurosurgery.
In five years,I’ll hopefully be at med school,studying what is most interest- ence to stay up with my NS classmates until all hours step at a time -- looking directly at what’s in front of
ing to me and learning how to help heal people.
of the night. Of course, my best experiences come me and specifically preparing for that.I’m excited for
WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT NORTH SALEM?
I’ll miss my friends, the great teachers, and the sense of camaraderie and from being on the track and cross-country teams. I the opportunity to learn as much as I can; I hope to

community fostered by having such a small class in a beautiful small town. can’t even name my favorite memory, because there use the classes that I take next year to find out what
North Salem is truly a great place to grow up and go to school and where
I met many great friends and people. I’ll always remember it affectionately. are so many: going to Carvel on Wednesdays; dye- interests me and what I want to pursue in my future. 

ing our hair before Sectionals; fooling around during But to more specifically answer what I think my

practice; cheering for each other during races; raucous career will look like: I’m most interested in journal-

bus rides home after our meets; staying up on late ism and policy. My dream job would be writing in

night FaceTimes with the team; and of course, doing The Atlantic as an editorialist; I’d also love to be on

our weekly long runs. Every year, my teammates are Capitol Hill, or in the world of international affairs,

my favorite people to spend time with -- no matter or as a policy analyst. And I’ve also always really

what we’re doing, we’re always having such a blast. been interested in academia, being able to do my

own research and work as a professor. No matter

ARETHERE ANYTEACHERS WHO INSPIRED YOU? what I do, I know that it will involve attacking sys-

I’ve had so many teachers through the years that temic inequity -- something I am deeply passionate

have had a great influence on me. Mrs. McCarron, about. But time will tell!

who I had my sophomore year for Debate, inspired

me to speak up against injustice and inequity -- WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT NORTH

something that has become incredibly important SALEM?

to me the past few years, and something I hope to I’m definitely going to miss my team the most

carry with me in my career. I’ve always known I’ve in North Salem. Even though I’m sad to leave my

had her for support. Mr. Regan, my Global Studies friends, I know that I’ll stay in contact with the peo-

and AP European History teacher, also inspired my ple I truly care about -- but I won’t ever again be able

love of history and deep-thinking about social stud- to run on my high school track team.That has been

ies issues -- his class was one of my favorites I’ve a really striking sadness for me. Something I never

taken. Mr. Chisholm, my English 10 teacher, also realized I’d miss until this year was the town itself.

inspired my love of studying literature; that class was The past month, I’ve been driving around and real-

one of the first where I truly realized how much I izing how beautiful North Salem is -- the sunsets

loved to dive into books and understand the mean- over the reservoirs, the fields and meadows, and the

ings within them. old houses. I’ll definitely miss that, especially being

My most significant mentor was Dr. Kowgios, in the city. 

July 1, 2021 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 5

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Page 6 Graduation Section – Special Supplem

ment to North Salem News – July 1, 2021 Page 7

PHOTOS: EMRIN LECLAIR

Page 8 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – July 1, 2021

PHOTOS: EMRIN LECLAIR

Valedictorian speech Salutatorian speech

Mark Vito Ava Jolley

ank you all for coming here tonight them. We’ve been through a lot and the In the summer of my freshman year, I less energy, and no more work can oc-

to celebrate our graduation.  beauty of it is that we each have our own became obsessed with the Myers-Briggs cur: this is known as the heat death of

Make some noise if you think this is unique things we’ve taken away from our personality test -- four letters, each of the universe. Put as simply as possible,

North Salem’s best class ever! I think struggles and failures and our successes. which de ned my personality and the entropy is the physical property that is

that decides it. Today marks a day in his- ese things will always provide us with world around me. For those of you who most commonly associated with a state

tory. I am the rst male valedictorian at the opportunity to learn about ourselves; don’t know Myers-Briggs, it is the theory of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty.

North Salem in years. How many years, the things we’re doing right, which we that there are 16 di erent personalities, is state was present during the birth

Mr. Digrandi? Ages, it’s been ages. I hope should enhance, and the ones we’re doing categorizing people in four di erent of the universe, and this will be the end.

that I will serve as an inspiration to the wrong, which we should change.  ways: extroverts and introverts, intuitives Yet it is not just heat and energy that be-

ne young men in this town. I recently Everyone in this class has a lot of poten- and sensors, thinkers and feelers, and comes more disorderly as time marches

learned that the class I am speaking for is tial to achieve what they want to achieve. judgers and perceivers. Essentially, it is a forward. It is life itself. As humans, we

the best North Salem has ever had. I am is class is full of talented people. If I categorization tool. feel an inherent, instinctual desire to put

honored to represent this distinguished had more time to prepare, I’d be play- My mom is an ENFP, my dad an ISTJ, things into boxes, to deal with the exis-

class after such a hectic and abnormal ing Eric’s new album in the background. my best friend an ESFP. In a world de- tential threat of our eventual death, our

year.  at’s real talent. Check it out on Sound- ned by chaos, I could study these letters, eventual permanent disorganization, by

No one would’ve believed you two years cloud. Anyway, everyone here has pas- what they meant and how they t to- creating categories.

ago if you told them that you could walk sions and aspirations that they are pursu- gether, and create a more orderly world. Myers-Briggs was my vice, my way

into a bank with a mask on and get to ing with vigor. at kind of persistence is ey provided comfort. My only prob- of dealing with chaotic disorganiza-

keep the money. Who would’ve thought key to success, and I’m happy about it be- lem -- I had no idea where I t, what tion, to make sense of the world around

you’d be in class while cooking or rolling cause you guys are the ones who voted me letters I was given. It drove me insane for me. For others, science is their vice of

right out of bed? Who knew we would and Gabby most likely to be president, so years. Not knowing where I t. What if choice-- providing a lens in which they

do volunteering right from our bedroom? I know I’ll be getting some big donations my self perception was inaccurate? What can organize everything in the entire

Some of us even did it right in our beds, when I announce my candidacy. In all se- if I didn’t actually know myself? Not be- universe: families of rocks, species of ani-

dreaming up the hours.  riousness, everyone here is adaptable and ing able to t myself into a box actually mals, groupings of celestial bodies and

ings were very di erent, but that’s resilient and no one has any doubt you’ll began to feel painful, but why? solar systems and galaxies. And closer

not all bad. If there’s one thing you should ourish wherever you go. After a lot of thought, I’ve come up to home, here at North Salem High

take away from me tonight, it should Congratulations to the class of 2021! with this: In our sometimes meaningless, School hierarchy exists as a response to

be about the importance of opportuni- ank you to Dr. Freeston, the Board of and always chaotic world, humans chase disorder. It’s in every teenage rom-com

ties and knowing what to do with them. Education, Mr. Digrandi, Dr. Murphy, categorization to feel safety and comfort. and dramedy -- the athletes, the nerds,

People say that when one door closes, an- and all the faculty and sta that have We all learned about entropy in chem- the queen bees. Perfectly ordered, per-

other opens. I like to think that there are worked so hard under di cult circum- istry class. By de nition, entropy is the fectly grouped. But life is messy, and

many doors, lining the walls. You’ve got to stances to make our year go as smoothly theorem that all matter in the universe though we try to keep things in perfect

have the sense to grab them, though. Ev- as possible and help us continue to learn trends toward disorder, expanding out- harmony, perfect categorical grouping,

ery situation is going to present you with no matter the medium. It has been a wards until inevitable complete disor- entropy prevails. High school hierarchies

unique ways to succeed, and you need to SEE SPEECH:VITO PAGE 10 ganization. Maximum entropy occurs SEE SPEECH: JOLLEY PAGE 10
be ready for them and take advantage of when all energy has owed to places of

July 1, 2021 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 9

Principal Vince DiGrandi’s graduation address

In a hectic crazy world — we made it mindset that one’s intent and impact may

to today. Congratulations to one and all. not always align, even when the best of

is was a year of challenges and intentions are implied. e determina-

change, and our students, families, teach- tion you have and the e ort you put forth

ers, and entire faculty rose to the occa- when you want to accomplish something.

sion. is is the attitude that I am talking

So let’s look at all we accomplished. about. 

Here is what we all did. We did not just When I was a rst year teacher over 20

survive — we thrived. years ago,I came across a quote by Charles

Teachers were asked to teach like they Swindoll, a pastor, author, and educator,

never had before, and they rose to the on attitude. I made copies and gave it to

challenge. Google Classroom, Screencas- my students and their parents every year

tify, Desmos, Kami — you name it, and I taught. To this day I run across former

they learned it and adapted their instruc- students and their families, and they still

tion. remember the quote...I am amazed. It

Students were asked to work at home, still hangs on my wall as a daily reminder

in class, with a camera on, remotely some for me. So today I share it with you as my

days, in-person other days, and YOU all gift on your graduation day:

rose to that challenge. You, yes — perse- “ e longer I live, the more I realize

vered and overcame many obstacles. the impact of attitude on life. Attitude,

We kept TGI going.... to me, is more important than facts. It is

We played instruments… more important than the past, the edu-

We sang… cation, the money, than circumstances,

We inducted into honor societies.. than failure, than successes, than what PHOTO: EMRIN LECLAIR

We played sports...lots of them and other people think or say or do. It is more 845.621.4450

walked away with some League cham- important than appearance, giftedness or [email protected]
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Mostly we learned life lessons while we certain way. We cannot change the inevi-

learned content. table. e only thing we can do is play on

We learned to always be exible in our the one string we have, and that is our

thinking and our actions because things attitude. I am convinced that life is 10%

do not always go as planned. We learned what happens to me and 90% of how I

deadlines provide ‘curbs in the road’ and react to it. And so it is with you... we are

that structure is a good thing. in charge of our attitudes.”

We learned that the one constant that For those of you who from time to time

we can rely on is change. may struggle with staying positive I share

You can be an agent of change, or you this with you. I have always de ned myself

can let change control you. as a “glass half full” type of individual —

Be thoughtful and purposeful in what trying to put a positive spin on the worst of

you do when change happens, because it situations and I read a great comment on

will happen.  social media the other day that I thought

In a year of much change you real- was quite tting for today. “If your glass is

ize that the one thing you can control half empty, get a smaller glass.”

no matter what is going on around you As you head o across the country to

is your attitude. Now I don’t mean the colleges, universities, the Armed Forces

‘attitude’ that kids give to their parents. or into the workplace, take a positive at-

I would de ne it more as a daily outlook. titude with you and be the change you

Your positivity. Your empathy and com- want to see in this world. I have faith you

passion toward others. Your understand- can do it and know North Salem schools

ing when things don’t go your way. e have prepared you well.

Page 10 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – July 1, 2021

SPEECH: JOLLEY FROM PAGE 8 to wide swaths of genetics. What defines race? What differ- absurd our situations became, how unfathomable, how

entiates one race from another? I feel this reaction to entropy disorderly and seemingly meaningless and entropic, we

are fraudulent -- popularity can exist in tandem with in- most strongly in North Salem, a predominantly white town choose to survive. We choose to persevere. That is our de-

telligence; athleticism can exist next to good grades, being where I, a multiracial white-passing woman, am perceived fining quality, what has helped us through this year and

a queen bee doesn’t preclude empathy. Yet these things, as white... whereas when I travel only 10 hours south to my what will carry us through as we graduate.

the things we can’t put our finger on, the things that we family in the Carolinas, I am Black. More than this perseverance -- a skill that I think is

can’t group, scare us -- the depths of the ocean. The ever- Although absurd, and although they only have mean- stronger in North Salem than other schools -- another in-

spinning black holes in the pockets of the universe. Even ing within our human world, I am not saying that these herent human characteristic has helped us overpower the

our religion, our gods, our belief in an afterlife. We can reactions to entropy are meaningless. On the contrary, we meaningless entropy of our universe: our empathy.

not define these things, can not put them in our perfectly have given these categories meaning — and so, it would be I’ve heard people say that humans are characteristically

neat categories, so we stuff them down, live our lives, ig- impossible now to reverse the effects, to go back to how it selfish beings. We do things because they make us feel

nore them. once was at humanity’s beginning, where race didn’t exist. good -- even the way we help others is done because it

It can be comforting to acknowledge our absurd reactions This is why self-proclaimed “color-blindness” is so flawed makes us feel good. Yet I do not believe we live in a world

to entropy--the uncertainty of life -- especially in how we — rather than trying to ignore the effects of thousand- without inherent human empathy and fellowship. Haven’t

define the other people in our lives. Our anthropocentric year-old categorization, we must understand it to eventu- you felt it, that connection that you have with your other

world is chaotic, filled with people who have different mo- ally abolish it.Yet understanding the absurdity of it all, the classmates? With the people you know and love? That de-

tivations, different beliefs, different driving values. Rather meaninglessness of the things we find so meaningful, is es- sire to help people, that feels better than helping yourself or

than working to understand the nuances, we categorize sential to accepting that the categorizations we create are achieving success.We don’t always follow it -- but when we

people in absolutes: good and evil. Yet allowing ourselves not black and white -- they are gray, they are flawed, and do, it glows within us. It’s almost addictive.

to understand and acknowledge the absolute entropy of it they can be overturned. Our world is meaningless, except for the meaning that

all allows us to see the shades of gray between the black Entropy isn’t a linear force, affecting the world around it we assign to it. But isn’t that a good thing, a comforting

and white. There is no absolute good and evil -- there are at a constant rate. It grows and sinks -- it fluctuates. We saw thing? In high school, those toxic, two  dimensional cat-

different perspectives, different stories, and understanding that the past year and a half,more than ever before.Whether egorizations that we have accepted for ourselves -- study-

that people are not evil is important in allowing us to have COVID was an outgrowth of entropy’s disorder, or if en- ing hard because we are “smart,” playing hard at practice

empathy for those we might at first write-off as toxic to our tropy resulted from COVID itself, it doesn’t matter -- all I because we are “athletes,” climbing up the social hierarchy

society. On a more relatable level, and as we graduate from know is that COVID threw our perfect categorical group- because we are “popular”—can be decimated exactly be-

high school, all of us are feeling the growing pressure of ings into disarray. Learning was meant to be at school -- our cause this categorization is absurd and meaningless. Rather

understanding the categorization we have created within friends were meant to be at restaurants and sports practices than seeking affirmation from this anti-entropic system,

our friend groups. We have our friends, and we have our and coffee shops -- homework and family was meant to be understanding its absurdity allows us to focus on the things

non-friends. People who are an important part of our lives, at home. Instead, there was a mix of everything. We learned that truly have meaning. On perseverance through endless

and people who are not. If they are our friends, we are told at school, before being thrown back home, before doing a entropy. On empathy. On love. On living in the present,

to stay connected with them -- even through the trials of mixture of both -- a “hybrid.” We were told  two weeks, enjoying the world around us. On freeing ourselves of our

college, even as we enter a whole new sphere. Yet why can’t then three weeks,then our entire spring semester -- and still, meaningless human categorization which chains us.

we discard this absolute categorization, and instead accept when we came back to school in the fall, there was no nor- I have finally decided that my Myers-Briggs type is an

the nuances -- there are people in our lives who are im- malcy.Even our friend groups changed,after not seeing each INFJ. It makes sense. I base my emotions on feeling; I tend

portant for a little while? There are people in our lives who other after months and months: we grew, we developed, we toward introversion; and most notably, I crave order. That

were our friends, and from which we can now part ways? changed our characters,and our groupings that had been so- makes this very speech, all about disorder, hard to write.

These are the invisible categories that we forget about. lidified since kindergarten shifted. We had no clue how to But does my type even matter? Does any form of catego-

The categories that harm us without our knowledge. Yet categorize our lives, how to define our day-to-day. The only rization matter? It’s easy for me to stand up here and tell

some are always present, always distinct. Entropy itself is thing that defined our lives was senselessness, the unknown, us to embrace the chaos — it’s another to live this truth.

neutral, a blank palette painted upon by human influence disorder -- entropy. Accepting entropy is a journey that I hope we will all take

-- our reactions to it can be malicious. Yet we are still here - how? as we step into the real world.

Science is a good reaction to entropy, grouping things Because though entropy is one fundamental truth of our In the “Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said,

together to help us understand the environment around us. universe, there is another -- throughout history, humans “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back cease-

But other responses to disorder are more ominous. Race -- a have survived. lessly into the past.”Entropy pushes us back, that ever-pre-

social construct that humanity created as a reaction to disor- Fyodor Dostoevsky, in Crime and Punishment, popu- vailing current. But we continue to push on, continue to

der -- is one of the roots of evil in our world.White America larized the idea of a “square foot of space.” According to preserve. We follow the river, and give each river bank its

barely feels the entropy anymore, barely feels the absurdity Dostoevksy, a man condemned to the death penalty would meaning. I can be an INFJ, and use this categorization to

of the groupings we have created. It is only when the grey choose to live on a square foot of space on the top of a help me move through life. But it is no longer my chains.

areas emerge that we realize the futility of assigning identity mountain for eternity rather than perish. No matter how It is no longer my psychological imprisonment. I am free.

SPEECH: VITO FROM PAGE 8 Lenore who has countless times helped me and our family whenever we’ve needed it.

Thank you to my brother for your support and for graciously taking the time to cor-

group effort to make everything work at this school over the past year and I think rect my homework answers when you copied them…just kidding. And thank you to

everyone can agree that it’s been pretty successful. my cousins, uncles, my grandmothers, and the rest of my extended family for always

Thank you to my mother and father who have sacrificed so much for me to be here believing in me.

and who have always selflessly supported me and helped me. Thank you to my Aunt We did it. I wish everyone the best of luck. Have a good night and enjoy!

July 1, 2021 – Graduation Section – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 11

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

North Salem High School graduates will be attending 46 di erent colleges, spread out across 18 states!

ALABAMA MASSACHUSETTS Manhattan College VERMONT Virginia Polytechnic Institute
University of Alabama Bentley University New York University Norwich University University of Virginia
Northeastern University Rochester Institute of Technology
CALIFORNIA Worcester Polytechnic Institute VIRGINIA College of William and Mary
California Polytechnic Siena College James Madison University
MICHIGAN Stony Brook University WASHINGTON, D.C.
COLORADO Michigan State University Roanoke College American University
University of Colorado SUNY Albany
University of Michigan SUNY New Paltz is list was provided by North Salem Central School District.
CONNECTICUT SUNY Oneonta
University of Connecticut NEW HAMPSHIRE SUNY Westchester
University of New Hampshire Community College
Fair eld University Syracuse University
Quinnipiac University NEW JERSEY
Monmouth University PENNSYLVANIA
FLORIDA e College of New Jersey Carnegie Mellon University
Ringling College of Art and Design Universal Technical Institute Pennsylvania State University

University of Tampa NEW YORK University of Pittsburgh
Bard College Saint Joseph’s University
INDIANA Binghamton University
Indiana University Clarkson University RHODE ISLAND
Columbia University University of Rhode Island
LOUISIANA Cornell University
Tulane University TENNESSEE
Belmont University

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