East Windsor High’s Class of 2011 Sent Off With Best Wishes

The keynote speakers at the 55th Commencement, hosted at , were all individuals that shared in the shaping of the graduates throughout their academic journeys.

Jeanne McCarroll, principal of Broad Brook Elementary School celebrated the class of 2011 in her remembrances because her first day as principal marked the first day of kindergarten for many of the graduates.

“We began together. I probably had more butterflies that day than anyone else in the school,” McCarroll said, reflecting on the first day of school.

She reminded students that “as the butterflies return, remember that everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten.”

Also speaking at the ceremony was Jeffrey Moore, a favorite teacher at East Windsor High.

Moore began his career at East Windsor High the same year as the class of 2011. He told graduates that he took this speech as his “last chance to speak to you as a teacher.”

To the surprise of many students and parents, Moore gave the students a model of perfection as a reference point—himself.

“Here are the top three reasons why I’m awesome,” he said. “I am not afraid of anything.”

Moore told students to be brave as they go out because they are entering a world that requires work.

“I am brilliant,” was the second reason Moore gave for being awesome.

He reminded the graduates that they need always be brilliant because they are entering a world of competition where they need to make good choices.

“Nothing fazes me,” was his third reason. “You are entering a world that is going to tell you every day that you are not smart enough,” he told graduates. “But you are uniquely perfect just the way you are.”

Additional addresses to the graduates came from Helen Thomas, the assistant principal at East Windsor High, who celebrates the class of 2011 as the first graduating class in her career as an administrator. She told students, “This is the time to truly believe in yourselves and your dreams.”

Acting Superintendent Carol Fox commended students as the first graduating class required to complete 30 hours of community service as well as the only East Windsor class to lose six days of school to the snow this year.

Fox told students to reflect on the power of what happens in a decade and “don’t let anyone define you, and remember that failure is a part of success.”

The student speeches that came from Class President, Marisa Prior, Salutatorian, Nicholas Parker and Valedictorian, Jaime Kessler all shared a common, inspirational thread.

Prior reminded students that “change is the only constant, and we’ve learned to adapt whether we like the changes or not.”

Parker, who delivered his speech by video because he already left for the U.S. Air Force Academy, told students to stay strong as they go out into the world because “there are days when you don’t want to do something, but it’s up to you to get yourself to where you want to be.”

Kessler told students never to settle in their lives. “Good enough is never good enough,” she told them. “Don’t be afraid to take a risk to make the life you want. Now is the time to go after your wild and crazy dreams because they are all possible,” she said.

The East Windsor High School class of 2011 included 77 graduates.

The ceremony also featured a moment of silence in honor of Charlie Gonzalez, a senior at East Windsor High School who died in September. Members of her family accepted a cap and gown, her diploma and a yearbook on Gonzalez’s behalf.