On a mild summer day, friends, family, teachers, and 78 Pierson High School graduates gathered at Pierson Hill in Sag Harbor. And although the wind picked up throughout the ceremony Saturday, it could not diminish the excitement and optimism in evidence.
The fashion designer Donna Karan delivered a keynote address with a theme of growth that comes from failure, noting the various times in her career when troubles had proved beneficial.
“Failing is one of the biggest accomplishments because it can jump-start your path,” she said. Her words of advice could be applied to anyone facing a precipice.
“Today you stand on the brink of new beginnings,” she told the graduates. “You have faced challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But these experiences shape you, they teach us to evolve.”
Ms. Karan’s grandson, Sebastiano de Felice, who could not attend the graduation because of a commitment to the United States Naval Academy, is among those in the Pierson class of 2024 who had their eighth-grade year cut short by Covid. And then they began their high school careers during the pandemic, adding difficulty to what was already a stressful time.
Chad Federico, the class salutatorian, addressed this during his speech. “Just as we were ready to transfer from middle to high school,” he said, “we were separated from each other. But coming back from isolation only made us stronger.”
Chad, who will attend Rice University in Houston in the fall, used the alphabet to take his classmates back through their school experiences chronologically. From A to Z, he recalled the colored name tags of kindergarten and went on to speak about how he has grown into a young adult looking beyond high school concerns such as grades and rankings.
“Some may only strive for those material successes,” he said, “but I have learned that placing too much emphasis on them will only leave an empty void. The better story of life comes from finding the balance between the tangible and intangible.”
Isabelle Caplin, the valedictorian, heading to the University of Pennsylvania, took a different approach to her address. A competitive swimmer and fan of the ocean, she focused on how after graduation she and her fellow graduates will now be “deciding which current to follow.”
She reminisced about a sixth-grade Rube Goldberg project, and used it as a metaphor for how they should proceed. “We have persisted together,” she said, “and like the dominoes falling in our handmade machines, it is our role to set the first domino off with kindness.”
Brittany Carriero, the school principal, presented this year’s Principal’s Award to Charlie McLean, emphasizing his empathy, kindness, and leadership, and how he has “left an indelible mark on us all.”
The Senior Chorus performed “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson, and the diplomas were awarded by Jeff Nichols, the district superintendent, Ms. Carriero, and Sandi Kruel, the president of the school board, followed by a celebratory sprint to the top of Pierson Hill for the cap toss. Family and friends found their graduates for photos and hugs, and more than a few cigars were passed around.
Two of the graduates, Gillian Tanner and Rachel Monaco, spoke of their appreciation for their class and the people of Sag Harbor. In the fall Gillian will study psychology at the University of Winchester in England, and Rachel will attend Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, studying political science.
“I’m really excited,” Rachel said, “because I moved here four years ago and the community really welcomed me. So I’m a little sad to let it go, but I’m excited for my new adventure.”
