When the 127 students from the Class of 2002 claim they have had a year to remember, they aren’t kidding.

“This was not an easy year,” said Secaucus High School Principal Pat Impreveduto, sitting in his office several hours before graduating ceremonies were scheduled to start on June 21.

The biggest event of this year’s graduating class, of course, was perhaps the biggest event of their generation: the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Many of the students witnessed the fall from the back of the school – where the tip of the Empire State Building pokes over the North Hudson Palisades and where once so had the Twin Towers.

Impreveduto said this class had a quiet power that allowed it to get things done despite adversity. It was a class that got involved with programs to help itself heal, such as building and painting the United America sign on the front lawn of the high school, raising $8,000 for a charity in Nashville, and putting together a memory quilt to articulate feelings about Sept. 11.

The quilt – a patchwork of sentiment – became the overriding visual image in this year’s graduation, replacing the arch of blue balloons that usually marked the football field during graduation.

Other features marked this class that were not evident in some of the previous classes, Impreveduto said.

“While this class may not have won as many scholarships and accomplished everything other classes have, this class was more involved in many ways,” he said. “Parents were very involved.”

The Class of 2002 was not even as united as classes in the past were, as much a patchwork of social cliques as the quilt. “Yet each group made its own special contribution to the community of the school,” Impreveduto said. “But one thing they did cohesively is that they protected each other, and persevered. And they went about doing these things in a quiet way.”

 

Faced the worst moment in modern American history

 

In his speech to the graduating class at the June 21 ceremony, Schools Superintendent Constantino Scerbo stressed how different this year’s class was.

“You, the class of 2002, will always remember the beginning of your senior year by the date Sept. 11,” he said. “The events of that day not only changed the future of our country, but even more specifically, those events and their aftermath likely changed each of you. While you witnessed a nightmare, you also witnessed courage, strength and compassion in the deeds of single individuals, families and neighborhoods.”

Although he could not predict how the events would change people, he said destiny would play a big role in the lives of these graduates, and some would enrich the world with their art, music and culture.

Board of Education President Ed Rittberg said this year’s graduating class started the year with the usual expectations: class trips, prom, applying for colleges and such.

“Instead, just days into the school year, the class of seniors would face the most horrific event to ever face our nation: Sept. 11, 2001,” he said. “This event will forever be remembered by your generation just as Dec. 7, 1941 is remembered by mine.”

He said that, however, this event hit close to home, as some graduates lost neighbors and friends as a result of the tragedy.

“This event could have sent you into a tailspin, but it did not,” Rittberg said. “And in some ways it made some of you stronger. In addition to planning your senior activities, you added fundraisers for the victims of Sept. 11 and collected much-needed supplies for the rescue workers.”

But he said the tragedy also made students realize how important their families and friends were.

 

Top students reflect on their years at SHS

 

As to be expected from a prizewinning poet, valedictorian Ahn Thu Ngo’s speech was a poem, talking about a “past rooted in bedroom stories, playground fun and childhood adventures” full of danger, intrigue and imagination.

Co-salutatorian Lauren Fitzpatrick gave a speech full of practical wisdom.

“Remember,” she said. “You are going to a place where the most frequently asked questions are: What is your major and what is your social security number. Don’t lose your identity in the math of numbers.”

She predicted that “crazy and unexpected things” would happen. “So being scared and worried aren’t going to help you solve any problems,” she said.

She encouraged people to wash behind their ears, do as much as possible, never waste a moment, smile often, listen to music and never give up.

Co-salutatorian Roland Tsao had stories of his own. Teachers had said that he’d done much to help around the school, a boy whose love of computers helped modernize the high school and keep it running during his four years as a student here.

In his speech, Roland said he recalled the hardships and the good times of high school, but looked back at his four years with no regrets. Actions taken and mistakes made, he said, were opportunities to learn.

“We all learn from mistakes,” he said. “That’s how we gain experience.”

Roland told fellow students not to dwell in the past because it will paralyze them in the present.

“The past is what it is, and there is no changing it,” he said. “Do not [forget] everything in the past. Because we also have to hold onto it… because it is what defines us.”

 

 

 

 

 

Final thoughts before graduation

 

In the hours before the graduating ceremony, students gathered in the high school halls, some already dressed in caps and gowns, others carrying them on hangers as they rushed in. Each face bore a slightly startled look. This was not the usual routine of classes. If a bell rang, they did not move on to another class. In the cafeteria, students gathered into small clusters, boys in their blue gowns laughing, girls in their white gowns talking about the past and present.

One group of boys seemed more exuberant than most, celebrating the end of the school, although with an edge to their voices that suggested they would miss it.

“This was a great class,” said Eric May. “It was full of different personalities.”

Bill Young seemed uncertain about the immediate future, and said he intended to get a job. May and Young said the most memorable moment in their senior year was something they called “the Casanova Party.”

Phong Tran said he would be attending Felician College in the fall with the intention of becoming a male nurse.

“I heard there was a shortage and that you can make a lot of money,” he said.

Ignacio Urbina, who will be attending Hofstra University in the fall, said this class was special.

“I’m going to miss everyone,” she said.

Joseph Smyth, who will attend Stevens Institute of Technology in the fall, said the class grew closer over the last year.

“We’re a good and smart class,” he said. “We all grew close.”

Ryan Mosca, who will be seeking a business degree from Seton Hall in the fall, said: “I’ll miss everything about high school.”

Jamie Colonna, who will attend Bergen Community College, said: “I’ll remember all the people: the teachers and the students.”

As the time shortened until the final march, cars pulled up to the curb in front the school doors, as harried parents let out their hurried children.

One parent, Frank Pinto, boasted of his daughter’s accomplishments. Dana had won several scholarships and was heading off to Felician College in the fall.

Grace Della Volla, one of the custodians who retired this year, had come to watch the class graduate. She said she had often joked with the football players during her evening shift.

“This was a nice class,” Volla said.

Nadine Ertle of Jersey City had come to witness the ceremony the friend of a relative of a graduate.

“They put on the best ceremony here,” she said. “I’ve always been impressed.” – Al Sullivan