As is the case with every graduation, the McNair Academic High school commencement ceremony was marked with speeches, pomp, circumstance, and, naturally, tears.
Some proud parents admitted that with the graduation came some feelings of trepidation.
“It feels a little scary,” said Tonya Robinson of her daughter Charmaine Robinson’s graduation. “She’s the eldest. She’s the first one to leave home.”
Such nervousness was not shared by the younger Robinson, who said after the graduation, “It feels amazing! I cried when we walked in, but I realized I’m going to see most of these people in New Brunswick. And if not, I can always keep in contact through Facebook.”
“I guess it feels kind of bittersweet.” – Sobiah Khan
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The Khan family also saw their eldest child graduate with McNair’s class of 2011, but apparently didn’t share the feelings of Robinson’s mother.
“We are so happy, and excited, too,” said Mohammad Khan, father of graduate Sobiah Khan, a member of the National Honor Society. “We’re not scared to see her graduate. She’s going to live with us anyway.”
In the fall Sobiah will join the freshman class at Barnard College in New York City where she plans to major in some area of science.
“I guess it’s kind of bittersweet because you’re leaving and you’re going to miss everyone,” Sobiah commented. “But I’m also really excited about going to college.”
“It feels awesome [to graduate] ’cause now I’m on to bigger and better things,” said Dimitri Van Sertima, who will be among Charmaine Robinson’s classmates at Rutgers University. He said he plans to major in computer science in preparation for a career as a computer software engineer.
McNair is a magnet school for top achievers in Jersey City, a competitive public school that requires an application to attend. It is consistently ranked among the top public high schools in the state.
A better life
Later, Van Sertima’s mother Patricia Van Sertima beamed and held back tears as she recalled immigrating to the United States so her children could have a better life and a good education.
“This is my fourth child to go to college,” she said. “Three of them attended McNair. I’m very happy with the education that they have received because I think it will prepare them for all the difficulties and obstacles of adulthood. The education here is not only about academics. It’s a real well-rounded education. They’re exposed to everything and they’re taught to enjoy school, to enjoy learning. That is what will make you a better person who can serve your community.”
Dimitri, she said, is her youngest child and will be the last to leave home.
Graduate Ormar Rodriguez also acknowledged the quality of education he received at McNair, particularly from George Johnson, whom Rodriguez said was the first deaf educator to teach at the high school.
“Mr. Johnson made me a success. Everything I’ve been able to achieve here at McNair, I got from him,” said Rodriguez, who is himself deaf. He added that Johnson is one of his role models.
Speaking through his brother, who used sign language to interpret questions from the Reporter, Rodriguez said he will attend Gallaudet University in the fall. Based in Washington, D.C., Gallaudet is considered to be the premier institution of higher learning for the deaf and hearing-impaired in the world.
“McNair is really good,” he said. “It taught me a lot. …And that ACT test was really difficult. But I made it through because of the education I received here.”
He said he plans to major in theater.
Pausing as if he had more to say about his education, Rodriguez instead ended where most of the other graduates began, “It feels fabulous to graduate!”
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.