Students who left the halls of Hendrick Hudson High School for the last time as students Friday had mixed emotions.
Its bittersweet to leave today, said Meghan Gilbert, who will attend Roger Williams for business in the fall. Senior year was great, especially all of us coming together at the end and really getting close.
Esteban Camino also said the day was emotional for him, but was excited to attend the State University of New York at Albany in the fall.
The best part was the relationships I had with my teachers, he said. Its sad to know youre going to leave everyone and start new at a different school.
Greg Graziani also said hell miss the great teachers hes had. Hell be studying marketing at Bentley University.
Today is bittersweet because youre leaving all of this, Graziani said, motioning around the school. Youre leaving your friends and its sad and Im especially going to miss some of my teachers because theyve really helped me while I was here.
Rikki Parabello, who will study at SUNY Cortlandt in the fall, said reality hasnt fully set in for her yet.
It just feels strange, she said. Its exciting, and Im nervous but I dont really feel like this is it.
Her friend, Shelby Brockhausen who will study at Quinnipiac University, said shes not looking forward to being the new kid at school.
Im just really nervous to leave all the friends I have here and move on, she said. But Im looking forward to it at the same time.
Some students couldnt help but feel emotional knowing they were going to have to say goodbye.
Ive cried probably three times already today, said Isabel Baransky who hopes to study applied physics when she attends Columbia University next fall. Its definitely a weird feeling to be leaving, but Im excited. Its going to be weird not having the same relationships that I have with my teachers here. They just have respect for all of us and we have the same for them, thats been a great part of my time here.
Assistant Principal Jim Callahan began working as an administrator at the school the same year the Class of 2011 entered as freshman.
I started with this class, Ive traveled through becoming an administrator with them, he said in-between high fives and handshakes with some seniors. They were really a good class. Definitely one of the most well-rounded classes here. Its been a great four years.
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