001Come on. Anyone? Oh yeah. Okay. They say it allowed to get Look at my name. I like this. [Music] behind you. We'll look at another [Music] What are you doing? [Music] See all the No, the wall is good. I [Music] need to Look at the stairs. I'll be so happy. 44. He will be 45. Great mind. Good to meet you guys. Good work. [Music] We do it at night. So And then we got that. Nobody. So I didn't Try and pick up. They just speech. I know everybody. Thank you. Everybody chicken. Is it really She loves I'm here. on his own. [Music] What? That's a pretty Is that I thought Yeah, let's go. tickets. [Music] Yeah. [Music] It's hard. [Music] Come on. Oh my god. You guys are not going to make it. I'm still
002everybody. Second question. I think so. Now they're like like It's not really something. Oh my god. Let me start. I got the bird. How many be like? [Music] Oh my god. No problem. That's what you get. It's not great. Thank you guys. Come on. Oh my god. Galaxy. You know what? Those are the I don't know how [Music] The worst apple. Uh, good evening everybody. All right, give yourself a round of applause. All right, this is obviously an amazing night and we are going to get started very shortly. Some folks are still getting seated. We want to make sure everyone's in here and has a chance to see the whole entire ceremony. So, just please be patient, keep chatting amongst yourselves and we will be getting started very shortly. All right. Thanks, [Applause] Mommy electricity
003mommy. Mommy, please. You're not going to miss anything. I found Hey, did you get in the window? The bathroom is not No, I did not. I need to know. Don't worry about that. She's back. You know why? [Music] They were like, "You They went to the bathroom. I'm sorry. Is it real? It's fine. reason I I don't know. Yes, I always get [Applause] Well, angry. What you do? All right. So, I do appreciate your patience. Well, the claps. So, uh, we're having a few technical difficulties and we are going to be starting shortly within the next five minutes. We are going to get the show on the road. I would like ask folks to, um, if you have balloons or the big heads, things like that, if you can, you know, keep them down because
004the people behind you also want to see things. So, please be mindful of that. And, uh, we're going to have a great show. It's going to go really smoothly once we get started. We just got a few technical things we got to work out. So, again, I appreciate your patience and we will get started shortly. Okay. [Music] grandpa. Look at all of our attire. Wait, you need to find out. It's an aesthetic. I would never do this. [Music] Hello. That's going to I can't do it. Oh my god. He's going to have [Music] Welcome to the University of Massachusetts for today's performance. Here all are welcome and all belong. Please note the location of the exits nearest to your seat. In the event of an alarm, please remain calm and leave the building. The ushers
005will direct you. If you need special assistance during an emergency, please contact your usher. At this time, please silence all mobile devices. Our considerations for those on stage and your fellow audience members. Thank you and enjoy the program. [Applause] I'm here. [Music] You don't ask me why I still have your number saved. Hello, stranger. It's been forever. You're acting normal. But nothing's normal about trust issues and soaking tissues. Lying to my sister and saying I don't miss you with no closure. Just getting older, but you still see me as a kid on your [Music] shoulders. It's just anatomy. You're only half of me. Still you don't know me at all. You've been my missing piece. So why aren't you missing me? Guess I'm less than I thought. It's just anatomy. Hate that you're half of
006me. Dating people cuz of how you treated mom. Now I'm with somebody good, but I'm still feeling numb cuz of trust issues. I'm soaking tissues, lying on my sister like I never miss. You say you visit empty promise. God, I wish that for once you be honest. It's just an only half of me. Still you don't know me at all. You've been my missing piece. So why aren't you missing me? Guess I'm less than I thought. It's just an hate that you're half of me. [Music] This is a place where I feel at home. [Music] I built a home for you. for me until he does appear for me from you. And now it's time to leave. and turn to dark. [Music] [Applause] Thank you. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
007[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] All right. [Applause] All right. Here we go. All right. Appreciate your patience again. Now, obviously, we're getting started. All right. Good evening, students, families, faculty, and staff. My name is Talab Sadi. It's my honor to be the principal of Ammeris Regional High School. Welcome. We are here tonight to celebrate the mighty, the resilient, the often late to a period because they stopped at Duncan on the way to school, the amazing class of [Laughter] 2025. and you are amazing and we are proud of you for so many reasons. One of those reasons is
008you made it through four years of high school in person. The first class to do that since the pandemic. You should be proud of yourselves for [Applause] that. I know that was not always easy. It's felt like that first year really we spent a lot of time just getting used to being around one another and that created some rough moments. And some of those moments, unfortunately, were caught on video and shared widely. So, we didn't we weren't too happy about that. That wasn't the only challenge that y'all had to deal with. Y'all had to deal with spotty Wi-Fi that often disappear like a ghost. You made things challenging, especially to use your phones. And I know dealing with the separation anxiety of not having access to your phones during class wasn't easy either, but you
009made it through that, and we appreciate you for that. And also making through the long school day, which did include flex block. I know some of you took the initiative to start the senior flex block exemption in the first quarter instead of the fourth quarter the way it was planned but I do understand that you know trying to make it through that long day you start the beginning of you know trying to that work life balance trying to work it out that way. So I appreciate you got to keep take you got to take care of yourself when you go out in the world please remember that you got to have that work life balance too much to work you get a little little crazy. So, we do appreciate you and we're happy and proud
010of you and thankful that you've made it to this moment. And in all seriousness, I do want to take a moment to um to honor Nate Squires who didn't make it to this moment. He would have graduated with the class of 2025, but he tragically passed when he was in eighth grade. So, I want to take a moment of silence for Nate. All right, put those things in perspective class of 2025. We are proud of you. You are a class full of champions and change makers. The number of championships, state and Western Mass Championships that you were part of, it's pretty impressive. championships in cross country, in Nordic, in tennis, in lacrosse, in track and field, and in ultimate. A round of applause for that. You also have a class that's full of championship calibers,
011actors, dancers, musicians, and artists. And if you haven't yet, If you haven't been to the art showcase at Hampshire College this weekend, please take a moment to stop by. The art is absolutely amazing. Wonderful art teachers, I think, brought out the best in our talented students. You're also a group of students who have advocated for changes in our school, in our local community, and beyond. You did fundraisers for worthy causes. LA end of last year. You advocated for a change to the dress code for our physical education classes. I greatly appreciate that. This was the first year that I didn't have to answer any angry emails or have those phone calls or deal with any complaints for that. So, I do thank you very much for that. Greatly appreciated. You also organized with other local
012groups to create walkouts for worthy causes and you supported the efforts for the changing in the state funding formula for public schools. You participated in the walk out that we did come to come here to UMass. You some of you went to the state house to talk to the Ways and Means Commission. You made statements uh virtually as well. You sent letters. You talked to your local and state representatives. We appreciate all your efforts. And we're going to ask you to keep on going because we do have some budget cuts looming and we need that change to happen. Actually, I'd like to ask everybody to do that. We want to be able to keep all the amazing programs, amazing classes that we have and the adults who've helped these folks get to this moment. The
013only way we can do it if we need funding. So, please contact your local and state representatives. We need more money. [Applause] So, as hard as y'all have worked, as proud as we are all are of you, we know you didn't do it alone. There's a lot of amazing educators throughout the elementary schools, middle school, and high school that are here tonight. And I know our appreciative class of 2025 wanted to applaud their efforts, the things that they did to help them to share the wisdom that they shared with them, their love of learning that they shared, their passion and love for all of you, the ability they had to make the best of a bad situation, which is another valuable life skill that I hope you all take with you. So right now, class
014of 2025 would like to applaud the efforts and passion of all the educators And of course, we want to thank the families for all the sacrifices and support that you've given the students and for working with us to help them get to this point. I know it wasn't always easy. We did have a few rough phone calls, but we were able to work it out and focus on getting them to this point. So, our class of 2025 would like to take this moment to show their appreciation for all their families who've supported them. There we go. All right. So, this is uh one of my favorite times of the year and reflecting back on the journey that they've all gone through. Remember them when they came into the high school as ninth graders, little folks
015who could barely get out of their own way. Some of the watching them develop over the years, not only physically, some of the growth spurts were pretty miraculous, but also the maturity, the way they've taken care of each other and the talented and passionate and courageous young people that you grown into today. It really gives me hope for the future. There's obviously a lot going on in the world right now. I'm going to need your courage to go out there and try to do what you can to really make impactful changes. I know that wherever you go, you're going to make a positive and meaningful impact and leave wherever place you go to better off than when you got there, just like you did for ARHS. And remember, this is always going to be your
016home once a hurricane, always a hurricane. So, wherever you go, please remember at the center of every hurricane is that calm, tranquil place. Please hold on to that when you face the storm challenges that wait for you. And remember, please don't feel like you have to face those challenges alone. You have all the support of everybody here who always love and care for you. And wherever you go, find your people. Find people who love you and care for you for who you are and help you to be the best you that you can be any that are out there. Please find them. And remember, we love and care for you and so proud of you and want to congratulate you for this accomplishment, adding it to the list of many more to come. Congratulations, class
017of 2025. [Applause] All right, so we're about to transition to our next piece of the of the program. So, right now we are going to hear from some of our corral and hurricane singers led by the amazing Todd Fruth. [Applause] What's that? [Music] in hand. She leaves [Music] home waving goodbye with an absent minded smile. I watch her go with the surge of that sadness and I have to sit down for a [Music] while [Music] forever and without answering her word without entering her whenever I can share the [Music] laughtering slipping through my fingers all the time. I try to capture every minute. The feeling in it slipping through my fingers all the time. Do I really see what's in her mind? Each time I think I'm close to knowing, she keeps on growing, slipping
018through my fingers all the time. Sleep in her eyes at the table, barely awake. I let precious time go by. And when she's gone, there's that feeling and a sense of guilt I can't [Music] wonderful. The places I had planned for us to go. I had some of that we did but most we didn't [Music] know slipping through my fingers all the time. I tried to capture every minute the feeling in it slipping through my fingers all the time. Do I really see what's in her mind? Each time I think I'm close to knowing she keeps on growing, slipping through my fingers all the time. I wish I could save it from the funny time slipping through my finger. slipping through my fingers all the time. I try to capture every minute the feeling in
019it. Slipping through my fingers all the time. Do I really see what's in her mind? Each time I think I'm close to keeps growing, slipping through my fingers all the time. She leaves [Music] home waving goodbye with an absent minded smile. [Music] [Applause] It's a great question. [Music] Tell me where is the road I can call my own that I that I lost so long ago. All these years I have wondered. Oh, when will I know? There's a way. There's a road that will lead me home. [Music] After wind, after rain, when the dark is done, as I wake from a dream in the cold of day, through the There's a call from far away. There's a voice I can hear that will lead me home. [Music] Rise up, follow me, [Music] come with the
020love in your heart as the only song. There is no such beauty as where you belong. Rise up. Follow me. I will lead you home. [Music] [Applause] As always, the Corella and the Hurricane singers were exceptional. One more round of applause. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Wait till they're all back. One more. One more. All right. All right. They're back. Hello everyone. Good evening. I'm Sam Camera, assistant principal here at ARHS and a proud teacher in the social studies department. Tonight I have the honor of recognizing some of our impressive seniors. Let's start with the saludiatoran for the class of 2025. This is the second highest academic ranking in the class and this year the distinction was earned by Elizabeth Rose Sawiki. All right. So, Elizabeth will be heading to Washington and Lee University in Virginia
021to study biology, and we'll probably continue to shatter track records while she's at it. We'll miss seeing her fly by on the New York on the Nordic ski trails up here in New England. However, thank you, Elizabeth. Well done. Now it's time for the valadictorians. Yes, plural. This year we have six students who managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA all the way through high school. That's right, four years, zero grade slips. If that sounds hard, it's because it is. There's a chance that Hermione Granger loaned them a time turner. Now, as I call your name, validictorians, please come up to the podium. And audience, if you could hold your applause until they're all introduced, I know it's tough because they're amazing, but it would be much appreciated. I'm going to go alphabetically. Cameron Baird. When
022he's not solving equations or building robots or creating with the invent team, he's scaling rock walls and teaching others to do the same. When he was younger, he wore only orange and demanded even orange bedding. Possibly his dreams were orange. His friends tell me that he's powered by white and pink strawberry monster energy drinks. Don't worry, he says they're sugar-free and also, of course, his unstoppable work ethic. He's headed to Yale University with double major in math and physics. He says he'll miss the West Coast rap from the Amoris College Science Center. His advice, slow down and enjoy nature. He's working on that himself. Isa Sedoni Cusk. She loves playing ultimate frisbee. I mean really, really loves it. As a matter of fact, the GX team is going to nationals in about a week. She's
023also a Nordic skier. Despite regularly battling equipment failure, which has been truly heroic, Isa moonlights as a French pastry chef and will be studying natural sciences here at the UMass Honors College. She'll bring with her the joy of learning her that her teachers shared with her and maybe a chocolate sule or two. Felix Gekcko. Felix is a triple sport varsity athlete, cross-country ice hockey ultimate, a passionate casual debater with anyone interested, and probably the only student that brings spinach to snack on as well as a book to the sidelines for in between Ultimate Games. Felix is yet another valid validictorian that earned a spot at the Ultimate Nationals this year. They've got a ham radio license and they helped out at the MIT Ham Radio Society and will be taking a mountain of sports merch
024and a love of learning to Princeton University where they will major in electrical engineering and minor in physics. Noah Ferris. Noah is occasionally late, but he's always passionate about music. He's shared his talents everywhere and with everyone, schools, synagogues, weddings, funerals, even libraries, quietly. I hope he also founded a free music tutoring program and commuted weekly to New York City for studies at Giuliard. He loves ceramics, the French cultural club, and creating opportunities for globally oriented discussions. He says that he will hold on to our school culture that is academically rigorous without being competitive. He will be doing a dual degree program to earn a bachelor's degree at Harvard University and a master's in cello performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. Yo, Marita. Yo always knows where he is. Maybe he can GPS
025track Noah someday. He's a runner, a robotics builder, a 3D printer modifier. He uses his 3D printer to build plast little plastic things that break like his door freezer handle or his phone holder. He's also a photographer, an enthusiastic consumer of blueberry muffins and yogurt. in the same bowl. That's my question. Yo is headed to Oan College to study mechanical engineering. He will bring with him sharp problem solving skills from his STEM classes and perseverance from his humanity classes. Humanities, excuse me, and of course his serious snack game. And lastly, Daniela Eve Sherman. She has a black belt in taekwond do, plays tennis, runs cross country, and is a downhill skier. She once wrote an ode to her calculator, a true STEM romantic. She coordinated the Francohone Culture Club, even though she takes Spanish. She's
026passionate about scientific advancement and the potential for curing diseases. She will take her inquisitiveness and desire to learn with her to the California Institute of Technology to continue her STEM studies. Her advice to you all is to ask the questions that you have and take the extra time to learn the things that you question. She has a secret skill that you will hear about in just a moment. So, let's give one big round of applause to our incredible [Applause] validictorians. So, congratulations. I'm going to hand the mics. There are two mics over to them. Good evening. We the validictorians of the class of 2025 would like to thank the students, families, and faculty who have come to graduation today to celebrate the many graduates here with us. Today, on the sixth day of the sixth
027month, the six of us are going to take you on a tour through our four years at the Amoris Regional High School. There have been many ups and downs, stresses and celebrations. Substitute teachers, please excuse the interruption. We are in urgent need of class coverage for freshman [Laughter] year. Fearless freshman year. From the winding hallways, arriving to late to class, and wandering into the freshman trap, everything was foreign and new to us. With our faces covered in masks and trying to remember how to socialize, we slowly grew accustomed to the fast-pac and responsibilities of being a high schooler. Whether it was trudging through the forest in ecology for the 38s of a hawk lab uh or learning to grow and endure the taste of the chicken patty, these moments were staples of our freshman year.
028Then we definitely can't forget about the devious licks challenge when Tik Tok caused paper towel dispensers and bathroom supplies to mysteriously disappear across the whole school. Contrary to this rough start though, we had dreams for the future and goals for our next three years. At 5'2, I even had hopes of growing a little bit taller. Oh well, I did grow a little bit though. Please excuse the interruption. We are in urgent need of class coverage for sophomore year. Sophomore sillies. Sophomore year is all about learning how to laugh and learn and figuring out who you are as a student and as a person. This year was filled with experimentation and sometimes an overwhelming amount of new activities. From bright pink titrations to cahoot study sessions, we certainly had a lot of silly moments. Overall, sophomore
029year was a pretty fire year. What with the paper towel dispenser going up in flames in the third floor bathroom? A huge thanks to our class marshal, Mr. Elliot, for his brave heroism on that day. Please excuse the interruption. We are in urgent need of class coverage for junior year. No, I don't want to go to junior year. Jarring junior year. This year, we became upper classmen and going to ARHS became second nature. We gained more autonomy and responsibility both in and out of the classroom. Some started driving for better or for worse. Some got jobs. And all of us, self-motivated or not, started thinking about life beyond ARHS. Welcome to the season of countless emails full of color and capitalization from the amazing Miss Cap Gray. This was also the year we increasingly gained
030a distaste for standardized tests and were asked repeatedly about our plans for the future. Please excuse the inter interruption. We are in urgent need of class coverage for senior year. Studious senior year. If you're honest, senioritis kicked in right on time in the second week of September. All year, my mom has been on my case about the perils of slacking off right before the finish line. Sound familiar, anyone? But here we are. We made it. Senior year was always going to be about expanding our intellectual horizons. Who knew it was also about expanding our hallway excursions and stretching our teachers tolerance? We listen and we don't judge. Ah, thanks guys. I knew you'd understand. And just like those well-loved communal hall passes, us seniors have truly seen it all. We suffered through our college applications.
031Some of us, all 30 of them, Cam. And then there were all those last minute physics problem sets. Sorry, Mr. Woodruff, but wow, there's so much talent in the class of 2025. What a shame to throw it all away. in a month-long killing spree, aka senior assassin, which left Daniellea here the very last person standing. And now, let's please excuse the interruption. We are in very urgent need of class coverage for graduation. Glorious graduation. I'm delighted to cover this final step of our high school adventure. These past couple weeks have been packed with classic senior events that both celebrate our journey to the present and our bright boundless futures ahead. The senior sunset, old school walkthroughs, prom awards night, our beloved flex block exemptions, and our senior prank, a beautiful wedding. We have lots to
032be grateful for. Please disregard that bell. Our class has accomplished so much and we should all be fulfilled by our achievements, lessons, friendships, and memories throughout these eventful four years. Graduation marks the end of a voyage, but more importantly, the start of the endless possibilities of the future. So, before I introduce our next speaker, class of 2025, let's take a final selfie. Thank you. [Applause] Yeah. And now I'm honored to pass the torch on to our wonderful class president, Kyle Oil. [Applause] Good evening. But before I get going, I also need a picture. Okay. Good evening everyone. I'd like to begin by thanking you all for coming out tonight and supporting the class of 2025. Before I get going, I'd also like to thank a couple people. I'd like to thank my mom and dad
033who have supported me at every step of the way, as well as my brother Dalen who has helped me through so much. I'd like to thank my fellow classmates and friends. And I would like to thank the rest of the student council for all their hard work. And of course, our class adviserss, Mr. Ruth and Miss Melendez. We couldn't have done it without how much they've helped our class. I would also like to take a moment to remember Nathaniel Squires who would be graduating with us today. Nate tragically passed in 2021, the spring of our eighth grade year. We miss you, Nate. Looking back at our four years at ARHS, it was filled with many great memories, but we can all agree that it was not perfect by perfect by any means. Although the teachers
034and staff did their very best to ensure that everything ran smoothly, there were times where it felt like everything was against us. With rules on our phones getting stricter every year, being reminded at the start of every class to put them into the caddy, then often having often having to walk two floors across the whole school just to use the bathroom because it was the only one open. And of course, we can't forget that Google Snake got blocked on our Chromebooks. But our time with Ars was filled with even more enjoyment. For example, playing Wordle at the back of class every day instead of doing my work. But besides that, I can say without a doubt, the best part of the last four years wasn't any singular event. Well, other than beating Northampton in the
035Western Mass Lacrosse Finals. But the best moment has been seeing you all every day, my fellow classmates. There was something so comforting about walking through the halls and seeing familiar faces. Faces I've grown up with through early mornings, stressful tests, and long papers and more. Those familiar faces reminded us that we weren't going through it alone. Whether it was sitting next to each other in class or simply saying hi during passing periods, these interactions built something meaningful in our school. So as we move on to life after arhs, I want to leave you all with a couple of things. I want everyone to keep pushing to do what they want to do in life. No one knows you better than yourself and listening to the negative listening to the negative opinions of others should not
036even come close to influencing you. They won't ever understand how you feel. As you can't describe passion, only live it. And I wish for you all to keep living your passions. I've seen how talented you all are. And I truly hope you will keep working to make your dreams a reality. And lastly, wherever we all go from here, please keep finding community and keep choosing kindness. Be the person who holds the door open. Be the reason someone smiles on a hard day. Give without expecting anything back. The as the world won't always give you kindness back. But that's exactly why it matters so much. Let the tough time let the tough moments shape you. Let them make you smarter and stronger. Because when you lead with kindness, you'll be amazed at how many good things
037find your way back to you. And to the class of 2025, congratulations and good luck. I know we can do it. Good evening again. My name is Noah Ferris and it is my distinct pleasure to introduce our class of 25 commencement speaker Eli Lubber. In 2011, Eli, while an undergrad at Yale, founded Desmos, an online graphing calculator that has revolutionized STEM education and test taking. Desmos is is especially appreciated for its beautiful and userfriendly interface. Many of my peers on stage have confided that Desmos completely saved them on the SATs. Honestly, it's hard to exaggerate the extraordinary impact of Desmos on tens of millions of students and educators across the United States. But believe it or not, Eli's journey began right here in Ammerst as a student at Ammerst Regional High School. Eli, you have
038so many illustrious achievements. You graduated from Yale. You founded a company. You were named one of the top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 by Bloomberg Business Week in 2011. But there's one missing line on your resume. Where is your high school diploma? Well, today we're here to write a historic wrong. We are so thrilled to share this moment with you as we receive our diplomas together. You are an inspiration to us. Thank you for being with us today and we cannot wait to hear your remarks. Thank you. Oh my god, you're joking. [Applause] I'm going to have to completely rewrite these remarks. I was just complaining about how I never got a degree. Um, Noah, thank you so much. You're going to have to come introduce me everywhere I go now. Uh, I'm sorry that's your
039new job. To Dr. Z to Principal Zadik, to the incredible faculty and staff at Ammeris Regional High School, to the proud families gathered here, and to the graduating class of 2025. [Applause] Congratulations. My name is Eli Lubberof. I'm a proud Ammerst native. Was part of the 2005 class at Emmeris Regional High School. I should now say part of the proud 2025 class at Emmeris Regional High School. I now run a math company called Desmos. Um, sounds like some folks have heard of Desmos, but for those of you who haven't, we're a math software company best known for a free graphing calculator now used by more than 100 million people around the world. Um, I also, ironically, never graduated high school until today. Uh, so every one of you had a leg up on the CEO
040of Desmos, but no longer. I remember vividly when my brother got his bachelor's degree and he waved it in my face and he said to nothing. Um, you made it. You weathered the worst pandemic in a century. Hundreds of excruciatingly early mornings, late nights studying, afternoons of sports and music, of dance and art, of volunteering, and I hope sometimes napping. You have something now that we can all be proud of. a degree from Ammerst Regional High School. And this is a special degree because Ammerst is a special place. It's the hometown of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, of leading researchers and climate scientists, of actress Uma Thurman, of the 2019 strongest man in the world, Martins Leuches. This is a town where a McDonald's moved in next to Antonio's and promptly went out of business.
041It features one of the densest collections of colleges anywhere in the world and the legendarily fertile soil of the Connecticut River Valley. That's a shout out to my mom, a soil scientist. It is quite literally a great place for plants and people and minds and ideas and communities to grow. I came to Amoris when I was six years old, moving with my mother and my brother to a newly formed intentional community called Co-ousing up near Puffer Pond. Um, fun fact, some of you may have had a teacher here, Mr. Fable, who was also a founding member of Co-ousing and a collaborator and mentor on various projects over the years. [Applause] As a kid in Ammerst and co-housing, I followed a um unique uh pathway through school. I started programming in sixth grade on my TI83
042calculator. Uh my script said to pause for booze. Nothing. All right. And skipped weeks of school at a time to teach it how to play against me in Monopoly. In 8th grade, I homeschooled and pretended to be a student at UMass Ammerst. In 10th grade, I dropped out for real and did the same thing at Ammeris College before heading off to Yale where, you guessed it, I dropped out again to start the predecessor to Desmos. I did go back and eventually graduate. So, I think now I'm all caught up to my brother. In hindsight, it's pretty wild that I was allowed to do all of this. But that's Ammerst. This is not a town that fits inside of any mold, nor does it ask any of us to. I learned here in these schools, in
043my community, in my home, that it's okay to not follow the standard playbook when it doesn't feel right, when it doesn't fit your values or your goals. I look around this room, on this stage, and I see the people who are going to assume the mantle of shaping our communities, our country, and our world. And honestly, I think we could use some changes to the playbook. We could use some of that buck the trend energy. I know it's customary to offer advice here, but I'm a little wary because honestly, so much of the advice that I've gotten in life has been kind of garbage. It seems like every time someone gets famous, investors and friends crawl out of the woodwork to tell me that if I really want to succeed, I should just be a
044little bit more like them. I remember a constant flow of stories of founders working 100hour weeks and never taking a day off and sleeping for four hours every night. Uh, but I really like to sleep. Um, I get really grouchy when I don't. So, that wasn't for me. Um, and you know what? Those 100hour a week founders have come and gone, and Desmos is still here cranking. Everyone wanted us to copy Mark Zuckerberg's mantra of move fast and break things, but that never felt right to me or to our team. We like to try to get things right, to be confident that they'll be helpful before putting them into classrooms. I guess by some metrics things have gone pretty well for Mr. Zuckerberg, but some might also say that they moved a little too fast
045and broke some democracies. Here's the most useful advice that I've ever gotten. I was in a moment of despair because another famous tech leader showed their true colors. I asked my friend and mentor who I should look up to and who I should try to emulate. And she told me two things. First, that the people I'll find inspiring aren't the ones out there self-promoting all the time. They're the ones working on something that they care about as part of a team. They're sharing credit. They're often happily out of the limelight. And second, that I was asking the wrong question. There's always something to learn from everyone. I am better at being me than anyone else could be. Desmos is better at being Desmos than any other company could be. We've succeeded because of the ways
046that we're unusual, not in spite of them. So, despite all of those caveats, I do want to offer a few pieces of advice, but please take whatever is useful and discard the rest. You are better at being you than I could ever be. First, find what you want to put into this world. For me, I've always wanted to make more people like math and feel powerful with math. I thought I'd be a professor and kind of accidentally stumbled into this instead. Desmos has never prioritized money. We promise to never advertise because we don't like being advertised, too. We promise to never sell data because we don't ever want our data to be sold. Investors have always been a little bit befuddled until they learn that I grew up on a commune in Ammerst. But we've
047always believed that if we just made things that we wanted to use, a product that a lot of people would love, that the finances would fall in line. And they have. Um, our investors are still confused, but they're also now, I guess, happy. Second, be patient with yourself. We are constantly bombarded with stories of overnight success, of get-rich quick schemes, of four-minute abs, and one weird trick your doctor doesn't want you to know. But that's not, in my experience, how change ever happens. It takes years for a teacher to become excellent, for an electrician to master her craft. The overnight mRNA vaccine for COVID was built on 50 years of research. Desmos is 14 years old, which is 98 in dog years. It took us 10 years from our first conversation with the College Board
048until we were finally the built-in calculator for the SAT and AP exams. Change takes time. Which brings me to number three. Look after yourself and remember that you're not alone. If I could go back and change one thing, I'd have taken better care of myself. I'd sleep more. I'd hydrate more. I'd stretch more. Parents, am I right? Yeah. Always be stretching every single day. Um, I'd call my mom more often. I'd have gotten a therapist sooner. The world can be scary. Work and school can be exhausting. I always thought that everyone else was just somehow tougher than I was, that other CEOs were able to handle the stress better. Uh, and it's not true. It's hard for everyone. It is not selfish to take time for yourself. It is not indulgent to look after your
049health. It is not soft to offer yourself grace or to ask for help. Look around this room at your friends, at your families, your teachers. Community is so much more important than I once gave it credit for. There's this pervasive myth in life and in business. the great man or great woman who through sheer force of genius and will somehow creates something from nothing. And this is utter nonsense. I get so much credit for the work of Desmos, but I'm not our best programmer. I'm not our best designer, our best teacher, our best writer. We run on an internet that I didn't create. I got here on roads that I don't maintain in a truck that I couldn't possibly build. My mom did more than I will ever know to grease the wheels of my
050educational journey. And she supported my entrepreneurial one as well. My first investors included neighbors, my first bosses, the parents of various friends. We need each other. I grew up in a community that's literally called co-housing. And it still took me such a long time to believe that I'm not alone, that it's okay to carry people when they need it, and to let them carry me in turn. Today is a huge milestone and one that you can be incredibly proud of. But it is also just the beginning. Fun fact, commencement actually means beginning, which always was surprising to me. I feel so lucky to be here with you today to celebrate. I can't wait to see where you all go, what you create, how you choose to shape the communities around you, and to bring that
051ARHS energy and spirit to everything you do. So once again, congratulations class of 2025. Okay, one more round of applause for Eli Lubern. [Applause] All right, next up we have our wind ensemble directed by Cara Bear. [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] All right, let's give the wind ensemble another round of applause. [Applause] So, as Eli mentioned earlier, Robert Frost did live in Amoris for a little while and he understood the impact that the positive impact that high school teachers have on young folks. And so, he created the Robert Frost Teacher Chair Award. The first award was given out in 1960 to two teachers chosen by their colleagues and given out every year since. and we announce the winners here at the graduation and then we also announce them
052again at um convocation at the beginning of the year. So I'm going call the names of the two winners and two winners please make your way to the stage to get the flowers and then we do have a lot of amazing teachers at Ammerai and this year the two that have been recognized by their colleagues as Robert Frost chairs are Nick Harrison and Rich Eert. [Applause] Two of our many amazing teachers that constantly go above and beyond. And I'm glad that their efforts have been recognized tonight. All right. So, up next is our superintendent, Dr. Z. [Applause] Good evening everyone. Tonight marks not just a milestone for each of you graduates. It marks a beautiful transition, a launching point. And I want you to know that I understand transitions deeply. A year ago, I left
053the warm and sunny familiar rhythm of the Virgin Islands to step into a new role into a new state and with a new culture. I had to listen closely, observe deeply, and remain grounded in my truth while learning to lead in a new space. Much like what many of you are about to do, step boldly into this new world, navigate unknowns, and hold fast to who you are. Listen to me clearly. Cultural acceptance is not assimilation. You do not have to shrink to belong. You do not need to blend in to be valid. Carry your full and true selves into every room, every campus, every job, every dream. Radiate your language, your traditions, your passions, your culture, and your authentic truth. To the RHS, ARHS faculty and staff, every educator, staff member, and leader who
054has poured into these graduates. I thank you. From the classroom to the central office to the regional school committee, your steady hands, tireless efforts, and unwavering belief in public education have made this moment possible. Your work, whether visible or behind the scenes, has shaped lives and helped build a future we celebrate tonight. To the caregivers, families, mentors, and supporters sitting in the audience, thank you. You are the village, and it is that village that lifts our children to reach higher, dream bigger, and believe in what's possible. Your love and sacrifice have shaped this moment. Again, to you, our graduates, transitions are not easy. They push us, stretch us, and sometimes shake our confidence. But what you are experiencing becomes experience. And experience becomes wisdom. And wisdom when coupled with heart, courage, and purpose becomes success.
055I stand as a testament to this. Class of 2025, I am proud of you. We all are proud of you. This moment, this joy, this pride, it belongs to you and to everyone who have helped you arrive at this threshold. Go forward not to fit into the world, but to shape it. As your superintendent, it is my honor to watch your growth, witness your resilience, and walk alongside you even though it's been brief on this journey. However, it is my absolute honor to present you to the regional school committee as having met all requirements for high school graduation. Congratulations and never stop [Applause] shining. Okay. Good evening everyone. I want to start by saying how honored I am to be taking part in such a special day. Today is the culmination of years of learning,
056growing, overcoming, and becoming. There have been so many moments that have led each of you to sitting on this very stage. Some moments have been hard, some have been easy, some have been heavy with sadness, and some have been pure magic. The kind where you feel completely alive and full of possibilities. As you stand on this precipice and look towards your next adventure, find the people and the places where you can be your most favorite version of yourself, the self that laughs the loudest, dreams the biggest, and feels like home. In the words of the great Miss Fizzle, take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. Because that is where the real growth happens in the mess, in the mistakes, and in the magic of trying anyway. As you look ahead, my best advice to for
057you is to choose bravery over perfection. Don't wait for the perfect time to be in because that doesn't exist. Start before you think you're ready. Take the leap and trust yourself. You'll find learn to fly on your way down. It is now with great pride and immense joy I get to say my favorite part. As chair of the Ammerst Pelum Regional School Committee, I hereby certify that all members of the 2025 Ammerst Pelum Regional High School senior class who are present present here tonight have completed all of the necessary requirements and are entitled to receive a high school diploma. Congratulations graduates. [Applause] All right. We see you. [Music] Get ready. Alma Simi Aban. [Applause] Lulu [Applause] Abuisha, Shad Abdalah, Ahmed, [Applause] Remis Majesty Alat [Applause] Maui Logan Andre Marcel Alandari Jose Baltazar Alfaro Rivas Nor
058Far Jalo Al-Husawi Louise [Applause] Alisa Clay Deini Odimeira Maris [Applause] Almeida Fredo Giovani Alvarado Rosales Lillian Marie Alvarez Everett Curran Armstrong, Ruby Branch Austin, [Applause] Jaden Andrade Basa, Cameron Patrick Baird, Tylon Benjamin Nasim Beckett, [Applause] Violet Evelyn Burby, Laura Biff, [Applause] Logan Elelliana Leilani, Blount [Applause] Finley Clark Bowererman, Marisol Pierce, [Applause] Bonipas, Zulea. Evelyn Booth, Timothy Earl Bowman III, [Applause] Freya Esther Brody, Abdi Salam Bile, Bran, [Applause] Zoe Marie [Applause] Candito, Anna Judith [Applause] Ballanger, Samuel Marley Castro McCauley, Samuel Owen Kavanaaugh, Eric Huray Chen, Gabrielle Alexander Chester, Nina Lee Chennapa, Bill Tan Vang Chu, Eva Lindseay Chikarelli, [Applause] Miles Jameson, Corley, Kiara Suarez, [Laughter] [Applause] Koreah, Owen Thomas Kith, [Applause] Isa Sidoni Cuska Gregory Owen Davidson Kaye Marie Lombus de [Applause] Jesus, William Ernest Desbian, Kelvianise, Crystal, Alisa, George Anderson, Do Sabir Alexander Clarence Douglas,
059[Applause] Henry Jacob Doyle, Jonah Frank Eggmire, Ansa Muhammad Fazal, [Applause] Noah Alexander Ferris, Olivia Hansen Fiser, Tyler David Flory, [Applause] Entric Devon Xavier [Applause] Fluitt, Rayen Sarah Foot. [Applause] Skyler Marie Fox, Caroline Ross [Applause] Garmin, Aean Becket, Giles McCreary, Valyriia Virginia Gado Ramirez, Felix Gwindelyn Gecko, [Applause] Anthony Elias Gomez, Lola Katherine [Applause] Goodera Chosam Searing Gatso. Indigo May Hollis, [Applause] James Clifford Hall, [Applause] Eli Elijah T. Hatfield Shaina Bell Hayashi Shaina Shaina Elizabeth Grace Hayes [Applause] Silus Joseph Hazen, [Applause] Angel, Gabriel, [Applause] Renee, Hernandez, Hernandez Castro, [Applause] Angel Gabriel Renee Hernandez Castro. Okay. I know. I know. Ronald Giovani Hernandez [Applause] Duran, Ella Nicole [Applause] Hinkle, Matteline Emma [Applause] Hawkman, Mave Margaret Searsa Hogan Sher [Applause] Sherump, Liam Ethan Hornick, [Applause] Alexis Jordan Isabelle, [Applause] [Music] Eve Dowling, Jacobe [Applause] Quinton Russell James. [Applause] Miles
060Ellison Jeff. Welcome. Sana Vune Johnson [Applause] Jordan Jones Debbold. [Laughter] [Applause] Desan Yuriel Lee Joiner [Applause] Wells Sarah Elaine Elena Keane [Applause] Connor Donato Kellogg [Applause] Kai Kelly, [Applause] Summer Karen. [Applause] Well done. Ain Kevraitis, [Applause] Isabella Rose Kahan, Vashali Rachel Ree Conowitz. [Applause] Moniha William Crroo, [Applause] Alexander James Lrant [Applause] Ava Chenade Laauo, [Applause] Kai Lawler, Henry Phillip Leeac. Thank you, Honking Leang. [Applause] Amelia Cole Lingo [Applause] Iris Zichi Louu. [Applause] Good job, Jack Leland. Long [Applause] Amelia Autumn Luchin, Mariah Rose Luchen, [Applause] William Patrick McDougall, [Applause] Elizabeth Maria Mloud Adelaide Tremble Major Carlos Gregory Marx Jr. [Applause] Jack Gordon Kenny Marvin, [Applause] Ella Kaye McDermott, [Applause] Spencer Bler McDonald [Applause] Armani Nasser McGrigg. Well done. Bonafasio Abram Mendoza. [Applause] Mariana Mia Mendoza Torres [Applause] Saul Marino [Applause] Nessiah Crisco Mosco, [Applause] Jeremy David
061Moffett Smith, Well done. Nikia Gloria Montgomery, [Applause] Zoe Retita Morai [Applause] Yo, Marita, [Applause] Cole Edward Morton. Divine Khalil Latif Moy [Applause] Jose Andres Munoz Gomez [Applause] and Lucia Antonia Ia Miles Davis, [Applause] Brooke an Nato, Victor Manuel Nunees, Saria [Applause] Lily Yumi Oldford [Applause] Nathaniel James Oliver [Applause] Aaliyah Jesse [Applause] Osman, Daniela Maria Osario [Applause] Castillo, Adah Beatatric [Applause] Seli Suresh [Applause] Patel, Antonio Alejandro Perez, [Applause] Adriel Jose Perez Torres, [Applause] Andre Alexish Peshkov. [Applause] Quinn Michael Skishan [Applause] Fos Rachel Tu [Applause] Fam Alden Jeremiah Pope [Applause] Junior Devonte Ramsay, Josephine Martha Rash, Miles Kane Readington, [Applause] Liam Ruick Reed, [Applause] Stephen Lee Rich, [Applause] Daniela Valeria Ribana Vega Raisha Batima Rizwan [Applause] Nolan David Sky [Applause] Ross did it. Anna Katherine Ruiz, [Applause] Elena Sophia Ruiz, Mayor Azadine Celuse, [Applause] Lewis and herel
062Santos. [Applause] Good job, Janelis Carmen Santos [Applause] Despie Andres Saravia Ayala Elizabeth Rose Sawiki [Applause] Pavan Apaso Sea, [Applause] Emit Michael Semler, [Applause] Mahir Pashant Shenoi, [Applause] Daniela Eve Sherman, [Applause] Bet Lynn Sher Garcia, [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Tyler Marcus, Brunell, [Applause] Shaniah Sheree Stockdale, [Applause] Quinn Ryan Strayhorn, Dalia Elod Raphaela Stido [Applause] Naima Espaldini [Applause] Savaris, Alana Marie Texador Melendez. Good job. Jonas Cole, Ty, [Applause] Maya Kachenko, Kogashelle, Burr, [Applause] Hayden, Jara, Triazi, [Applause] Kotai [Applause] Kyle Kirael Ian Ruten Barela Vaz [Applause] Jaden P [Applause] Vasquez, Rahad Wahas [Applause] Matthew Wang, [Applause] Willa Margarite Warwick. [Applause] Connor Leo Welch, Brian J. Sock Weston, Liam Pel Wickham, Eve Star White. It's all [Applause] right. Well done, Evie Amanda Williams. [Applause] River Nova Woliver, [Applause] Kayn TR Woodard Mcniff Samuel Lee Woods, [Applause] Tobias Paul Harold York.
063Good job, Daniel Junyang. U Sage Brooke Zephr, Sienna Jade Zephr, Nathaniel Austin Zomeck. [Applause] Congratulations class of 2025. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause]