43
Fitch Class of 2010 reflects, looks ahead
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
AUSTINTOWN
Cheers and whistles greeted the Class of 2010 as it entered the Fitch High School gymnasium. The graduates responded to the family members and friends in the bleachers with smiles and waves.
Commencement is an important day for these young people, said Vince Colaluca, superintendent.
Though many look at commencement as an end, he continued, it’s really a beginning.
“Today is the beginning of a new chapter of your lives,” he told the graduating seniors at Saturday’s commencement. “Whether you move on to college, trade school, employment or the military, commencement is only the beginning.”
But, he noted, it’s also a time for reflection.
“Look around you and reflect on the friends you have made, the experiences you have had academically, socially, athletically,” he said.
He also encouraged the graduates to thank those who helped them along the way.
Docylyne Shelton, senior class president, agreed.
“We were all so immature our freshman year,” she reminded her fellow graduates. “It didn’t take us long to grow up, though. And we’ve come a long way. We can’t take all the credit, though, for getting to where we are. We’ve had great people helping us along the way.”
She thanked teachers, guidance counselors, principals, parents and grandparents for being there when needed.
Graduate Robert Matthews said his four years at Fitch prepared him for the future.
“It was a lot of hard work with football and schooling and tough teachers,” he said. “It all helped.”
He said he enjoyed making friends and meeting new people and will miss that aspect of high school.
Matthews will attend Youngstown State University to study law. He plans to be a criminal attorney.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I’m excited. I just want to get out there, find my career choice and move on.”
Fellow graduate Brittany Jones agreed.
“I’m excited to go to college,” she said. “It’s like a whole new beginning.”
Jones also will attend YSU and pursue a career in early-childhood education.
She’ll miss Fitch, but she said she’ll always have the memories.
“I’ll miss just seeing my friends every day, having fun classes and fun teachers,” she said. “The teachers were really cool and fun.”