On Saturday, June 5, the Hull High School class of 2021 graduated – unmasked, on a brand-new turf field, and surrounded by an idyllic view. Yet, the seemingly perfect setting for the ceremony masked a less than perfect senior year.
“For the past two years, I have stood at this podium during graduation ceremonies and lauded the graduating classes for their selflessness and sacrifice,” HHS principal Nicole Nosek said. “This year, I stand before you truly amazed at what this past year has been for you as a class.”
Nosek gave a recap: Fifteen months ago, when members of the class of 2021 were juniors, the school moved to remote learning because of the coronavirus outbreak.
When they returned to school in person at last, the seniors were “tasked with being the leaders of the school, the role models, as all the students had to adapt. … You wiped down desks, you relentlessly checked Google Classroom, you logged onto your Zoom classes muted and unmuted, cameras on and cameras off, and got really adept at ever-changing schedules with the ever-changing times.”
The seniors were also “role models to the underclassmen by following rules and protocols in a remarkably respectful and cooperative way.”
Somehow, through it all, these upperclassmen managed to endure it all and even have fun as they did.
From cohort-to cohort-challenges (which Nosek acknowledged Cohort B clearly excelled at) to advisory competitions, the senior class did it all, including a prom.
Yes, a prom. This class was able to raise more than $6,000 through fundraisers to support the prom, which, Nosek noted, gave them “literally the cheapest prom tickets of any senior class I think in the history of man.”
Hull High School Class of 2021: We applaud you. Though your senior year was “forever changed,” as Nosek said, you made it through while maintaining grades, social distancing, extracurriculars, and fun activities that may become new traditions. So, congratulations to you all!
Victoria Dolan is school correspondent for The Hull Times.
