A Hearty Send-Off for PaliHi’s Class of 2004

‘Horeem chavereem ubne mishpacha yekareen,’ (parents, family, friends, welcome) said Palisades High School graduating senior Molly Danziger in Hebrew, one of nine multilingual welcomes at the 2004 commencement held in the school’s stadium last Thursday. Five hundred seniors were presented with diplomas and encouraged in their future plans, which include 93 different colleges and universities at the evening ceremony that included speeches, awards, music and joy. Valedictorian and National Merit Scholar finalist Anne Marie Barrette wondered how much PaliHi had prepared her class for the future. ‘Life is about learning, both big lessons and small ones,’ she told the assembled parents, friends and faculty. ‘I learned that an 8-1/2- by 11-piece of paper is not adequate covering in the quad when seagulls are flying overhead, and I learned that 20 minutes of nutrition, if used efficiently, is just enough time to finish homework due third period. ‘No doubt these lessons will serve me well in life, but there are also more important things,’ Barrette continued. She underscored the importance of the ‘plus one’ rule: If you’re studying for a final, study one more hour. If you’re selling a product, aim to sell one more.’ Class president Kedra Sattiewhite found Pali to be a microcosm of the world, a study in cooperation and understanding. ‘We have learned to get along with different races, different cultures and people from different backgrounds,’ she said. Salutatorian and National Merit Scholar finalist Andrew Pan challenged the grads to look beyond the ‘usually true, but also usually trite and clich’d advice’ to graduates. ‘We have no doubt heard many adages the last few years at school, at home and even here, now as we graduate in a ceremony filled with cliches. What we must do is use our own judgment to find and act on the truth in these axioms….Take all the other simple truths you’ve learned here and keep them near and dear to you’and whatever you do, please don’t throw them out with your old homework!’ A class of extraordinary talent, many members contributed to the day’s program. Terrell Briggs and Charmagne Land combined their voices in the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and the Palisades Charter High School Orchestra, under the direction of Terry Henderson, played the prelude and outdid themselves with John Philip Sousa’s ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,’ accompanied by fireworks. Clarinet player Daniel Fox and pianist Anne Marie Barrette provided a musical interlude before graduating senior April Johnson began her address. The class of ’04 was remarkable also for their academic achievements. Forty-two seniors were confirmed California Scholarship Federation Sealbearers and 11 students received commendations from the National Merit Scholarship committee. Four students, Alan Baik, Michael Jacobson, Marisol Melgarejo and Heather Thompson were honored for four years of perfect attendance. Some 50 organizations, foundations and educational institutions granted awards and honors to over 100 students. While the graduates were to be commended for their hard work and numerous successes, fellow classmate William Gray cautioned against cockiness. ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously,’ he admonished. ‘The great transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau took himself very seriously. He ended up living by himself in the woods for a year, talking to the ‘mighty woodchuck’ about the reasons for his existence. Please don’t let this happen to you…I ask you not to grow up, at least not all the way. Watch comedies, not just in-depth documentaries. Eat cereal, Play fun games…Drink a high-carb, caffeine-loaded caramel frappuccino every now and then instead of the usual decaf vente, soy-milk, light-froth, no-cinnamon coffee.’