Graduating from high school is a major milestone. The day when students become alumni is filled with various emotions ranging from sad to happy, excited and, for some, anxious. Two soon-to-be alumnae at Clearview Regional High School get to do it knowing they’re the top two in their graduating class.
“I was surprised,” Olivia Jones, valedictorian, said. “It was not something we were really expecting. Not something my family and I paid super close attention to. It was just kind of ‘try your best’ and ‘as long as you’re giving all of your effort, we’re OK with however you do.’”
“I was kind of shocked,” Allie Capik, salutatorian, said. “I always worked hard, but I didn’t realize where it could get you. It was nice shock to have.”
Both added they were told in September of generally where they were ranked in their class, but not being the top one and two overall.
The two agreed having a plethora of courses to choose at Clearview Regional helped them find out what to study for in college and what electives they enjoyed taking.
Jones said she’s going to Drexel University to study biomedical engineering, and Capik said she’s attending The College of New Jersey to study biology – both likely a product of the experiences they had with Clearview’s science teachers, whom they’ll miss.
“Dan Lafferty, Kyle Rosa, Amanda McGeehan and Dawn Heil, who has always been a second mom to me, and Nickolas Noone, who I call my best friend all of the time, have made everything so much more fun,” said Capik.
“Personally, I’m really involved in our media department, so all three of the media teachers – Mike Wolk Jr., Mike Lizzio and Mark Mozzachio – have always been really supportive and encouraging, and we learned a lot from them,” said Jones.
Besides academics, the girls said they’ll also miss having the opportunity to create new memories with their peers and to be involved in the ever-growing list of athletic and extracurricular activities at Clearview.
Capik played softball for the school and said leaving them was “tough” for her because they’ve become a family to her.
Both said they’ve been getting a bit emotional thinking about leaving high school, but are also excited to be able to try new things at their respective colleges and make more memories with the people they’ll meet there.
“It’s exciting in a way because obviously we’re graduating and it’s the end of this chapter and it’s the culmination of all of the hard work we put in, but it is also sad in a way because we’re finishing out this chapter at the same time,” Jones said.
“It’s a happy time that we’re going to continue this journey that we started, but it’s sad not being able to keep making memories with the same people,” Capik said.
Capik later added that, in her graduation speech, she wants her fellow graduates to remember how they became the people they are today, and to discover what they want to do in the future and pursue their passions.
“‘When we leave this school [on June 14], we become a group of sailors, cadets, apprentices, interns, Scarlet Knights and yes, even Dragons,” Jones read from her speech. “But no matter where we go, no matter who we become, remember that first, you were Pioneers.”
Jones advised the rising seniors to continue working hard on their studies, but to also take every opportunity they have to partake in the various class and school-wide activities.
“Don’t stress about the little things because it’s really not worth it,” Capik added. “Anyone who knows me knows that I put myself through so much pressure, and in the end, there’s only so much you can do. As long as you’re giving it your all, you can’t put that pressure on yourself.”
Their advice to their fellow graduates?
“We did it,” Capik exclaimed.
“Good luck with everything you try and do,” Jones said. “We’ll know that you’re going to be successful in it.”
