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Struthers grads open ‘new chapter’
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
STRUTHERS
Commencement marks both a beginning and an end, Struthers schools Superintendent Joseph Nohra told the 163 members of the Class of 2013.
“But one thing remains for sure, you will always be a Wildcat,” he said at Sunday’s commencement at Struthers Field House.
The day is the beginning of the next part of their life, he said.
“Your class will help other people,” Nohra said. “You will help our economy. And I’m sure some of you will lead our city and country as mayor and congressman, and maybe even as governor or president.”
However, the day also marks the end of an important part of their life, he added.
“But the key for you is this: You made it,” he said.
It will be hard to say goodbye to close friends who are leaving the area to attend college, said Allison Guerrieri, class salutatorian.
“I know it’s a new chapter,” said Guerrieri. “And kind of leaving that other chapter behind is what’s going to be the hardest.”
Guerrieri will major in pharmacy at Youngstown State University.
“It’s been a long four years,” she said. “But I think we’ve all grown so much that we’re definitely ready to start a new chapter in our lives, and that’s exactly what graduation represents.”
There is no manual on how to live life, Guerrieri told her classmates during her commencement speech.
‘My advice to you is to make your own manual,” she told them. “The best advice I can give you is to be yourself.”
Jordan Greco, one of five valedictorians, said she’s nervous about the future.
“But I’m excited for everything to be over and actually go out in the real world and start a new life,” she said. “I’m definitely going to miss friends and the teachers. I’m going to miss my bio technology lab at the career center. People out there are great.”
Greco will major in environmental science at YSU and plans a career in natural-resource management.
Her two years at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center prepared her well for the next part of her life, she said.
“I have a lot of lab experience,” she said. “And since I’m going to be going into labs, I’ll feel more ahead of the game than other people.”
She’s looking forward to college.
“I like change,” Greco said. “I like meeting new people, so it’s going to be an experience.”