Westport grads lauded for taking risks and dreaming big

WESTPORT — To start Sunday's commencement for the Westport High School Class of 2018, graduate Patricio Bernal played the "Star Spangled Banner" on his saxophone. He stopped before finishing, laughed and conceded that there was one section he could not play very well.

The audience erupted in laughter and many clapped to a beat as Bernal finished his rendition, setting the perfect tone for a class that exemplifies unity, endurance and delightful "quirks," according to speakers at Sunday's commencement exercise.

Sunday's ceremony in the high school auditorium was filled with some tears, much laughter and many touching moments for a class that many say worked well for each other and the community at large. Better yet, as Valedictorian Charis Hall put it, they are a class of "weirdos in a good way," and they are equipped to redefine the meaning of success.

As illustrated in Bernal's rendition, it is acceptable to take risks, a point made in Principal James Demers' speech.

Demers also urged graduates to work to live and not "live to work." Based on many of the speeches, it appears this class has heeded that message.

"At Westport, we became part of a collection of people who seemed comfortable with who they were and their quirks," Hall said.

Other speakers noted this attribute of the students, and Class President Ashlie Thatcher said that the dedicated teachers and staff helped hone the "moral compass" of the 63 students who walked across the stage on Sunday.

"We were not looked at as statistics or grades in a grade book but as people," Thatcher said, adding that the district's title is fitting — "This is called Westport Community Schools."

Thatcher was one of a handful of speakers that spoke of how the Class of 2018 faced unique challenges, from a middle school that was infested with the carcinogen PCB to the leaky roof and broken lockers of the high school building.

Superintendent Ann Marie Dargon note that this class welcomed seventh- and eighth-grade students to the high school during their sophomore year. That year, the high school was converted to a junior/senior high school and the middle school shut down.

This class, due to space issues, also had to shuffle around and even ate lunch in a gymnasium at one point.

However, despite it all, this class made these adjustments with "little fuss and welcoming smiles," Dargon noted.

Dargon delivered her last commencement speech for the district, as the district will be moving on to a new school superintendent in July. Dargon said she wrote her speech to be "brief but somewhat memorable."

Dargon's speech was a powerful one, as she called out the many students who took the risks for the good of the community — planning walkouts, speaking out against school violence, imploring more art and music education, as well as many other community-minded endeavors.

"You made our dreams of authentic learning come true," Dargon said.

Dargon shared a quote from Oprah Winfrey and an anonymous poem that highlighted how education is the key to unlocking doors in life and dreaming big.

"Our graduating class of 63 students have certainly unlocked the door," Dargon said. "Have fun, dig deep, stretch and dream big."

Dargon also shared some pop culture facts that further defined the character of this graduating class.

When this class started kindergarten in 2005, the top song that year was "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey. This year's top song is "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.

Dargon called these songs perfect "descriptors" of this class.

Salutatorian Delaney Wilkinson compared the class to the character Horton and the microscopic citizens of Whoville in Dr. Seuss' "Horton Hears Who."

The citizens in the story rallied together for their voices to be heard and for their home not to be destroyed.

The Class of 2018, like the Whoville citizens, worked together and their voices made a difference. This class brought in parents from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 and brought in a Harvard psychiatrist as s guest speaker. Members of this class led a walkout, spoke at a regional rally about school safety, and organized efforts for graduates to receive thousands of dollars in scholarship money.

"Our voices and identities all grew and expanded," Wilkinson said, and further connecting the class to Whoville — "Despite the many setbacks, our voices were heard."

To complement the unique characteristics of this class, a unique individual served as the guest speaker. Ben Booth, the high school rowing instructor and president of Dharma Voyage, learned yoga in India, martial arts in China and has rowed all over the world.

"Be patient. Don't feel you need to rush," Booth told graduates. "Take some time to invest in yourself now, and it will pay you back later."

Click here for a list of Westport's top 10 students.