Hendrick Hudson Grads Sad but Anxious as They Exit

Students who left the halls of Hendrick Hudson High School for the last time as students Friday had mixed emotions.

“It’s 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. “It’s sad to know you’re going to leave everyone and start new at a different school.”

Greg Graziani also said he’ll miss the great teachers he’s had. He’ll be studying marketing at Bentley University.

“Today is bittersweet because you’re leaving all of this,” Graziani said, motioning around the school. “You’re leaving your friends and it’s sad and I’m especially going to miss some of my teachers because they’ve really helped me while I was here.”

Rikki Parabello, who will study at SUNY Cortlandt in the fall, said reality hasn’t fully set in for her yet.

“It just feels strange,” she said. “It’s exciting, and I’m nervous but I don’t really feel like this is it.”

Her friend, Shelby Brockhausen who will study at Quinnipiac University, said she’s not looking forward to being the new kid at school.

“I’m just really nervous to leave all the friends I have here and move on,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to it at the same time.”

Some students couldn’t help but feel emotional knowing they were going to have to say goodbye.

“I’ve cried probably three times already today,” said Isabel Baransky who hopes to study applied physics when she attends Columbia University next fall. “It’s definitely a weird feeling to be leaving, but I’m excited. It’s 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, that’s 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, I’ve 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. It’s been a great four years.”

 

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