NUNDA – As the 48 seniors from Keshequa Central School said good-bye to their high school years and opened the page to a new chapter in life on Saturday they did so with mixed emotions.
“It does not feel real that we are all leaving soon,” said salutatorian Mackenzie Gillen.
Like many students Gillen is going on to college. She will study at Keuka College but is not quite sure on a major. For her, high school was a fun time, filled with many happy memories.
“It was a lot of fun with my friends. A lot of athletic experiences, sports teams and going to games was a highlight,” said Gillen.
Leaving Nunda for new experiences is something that she acknowledges makes her a bit nervous.
“I am nervous about the rest of it and I am kind of scared to leave because I don’t know what is going to happen next and this has just been so easy and fun for me,” said Gillen.
Valedictorian Clay Davis, who will study chemical engineering at Clarkson University, also acknowledged nerves.
“It is a little bit bittersweet, yeah, I am going to miss a bunch of my friends, but new friends are coming, too,” said Davis.
To many students such as Reese Powers, the teachers and students are not just educators but like family. He has been a student in the district since pre-kindergarten. He will take up business and sports management majors at St. John Fisher College.
“I am kind of excited to take the next step and meet new people and find new things in life that I can enjoy, but I am also nervous about leaving behind some close friends and family,” said Powers.
One of those teachers who is much more than a math teacher to many of the kids here is Ron Macomber. At the graduation ceremony he said goodbye to the students but also encouraged them to live life to the fullest.
“I am going to just talk to the kids about living their dreams and going after their goals and living life with no regrets,” said Macomber.