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HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. Hastings High School seniors graduated Thursday evening in a ceremony on Reynolds Field and each speaker encouraged the students to take hold of their future.
The future is up for grabs. I know you will be the ones to grab it and shape it in your own way, said Hastings High School Principal Louis Adipietro.
The 2012 commencement speaker was Zack OMalley Greenburg, a writer for Forbes as well as a 2003 graduate of Hastings High School. Greenburg offered anecdotes of his time spent writing about rappers and hip hop artists as part of his career. He said growing up he always had an affinity for rap music so he encouraged students to find something they love and make a career out of it.
Youre future is going to be up to you so get started, he said.
Sarah Madigan, the 2012 salutatorian, ran through a list of things she loved about her high school, but said there was one that topped them all.
Thats what I love about Hastings High School the most, we know our place, she said. We dont let opportunities to lead go to waste.
Alexandra Berman, the 2012 valedictorian, talked about what it will mean for students to leave their homes of so many years.
They say you dont miss something until its gone, she said. This year has shown me theres a little bit of truth in all clichés.
Berman also expressed a sense of optimism about graduating from Hastings High School and starting over.
Our future is completely in our hands because thats what starting over means, she said.
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