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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, July 24, 2020 Page 11 SHS | FROM PAGE 10 “2020.” I think it has a Sachem head on it, or something like that. Q: So, it’s going to be something unique, something like a keepsake? A: Yes, so even if they don’t want to wear it, they can put it away and keep it for memories. I don’t know if they want to remember this stuff [COVID-19], but if they do, they have the mask. Q: So, would you call this year’s graduation sort of the marquee event for this year’s seniors? A: Yes, I would say, defi nitely – through all of this going on at the end of our senior year; a lot of things were cancelled. And I think graduation day being replanned is defi nitely something we have all been looking forward to. Q: So, this year’s commencement will be a bigger boost than in past years? A: Yeah. Defi nitely. I think it’s going to look diff erent than in past years, but I think it’s going to be … maybe more of a big deal. Q: Yes, that does make sense. Any other special things you are privy to that you can talk about? Or are there some surprises? A: I don’t know if there are any surprises. I know we will be seeing our Senior Video through a drive-in at the mall, so that’s something we’re all excited about. I think we’re working on getting snacks, and kids can come in their cars and watch Senior Videos, so that should be a lot of fun. Q: And that’s happening… A: Yeah, that is happening next week [this week], I think on Tuesday. Q: In the midst of this pandemic, what’s the most interesting thing that you will remember as being class president, maybe something you had to deal with or observed? A: That’s a tough one. The most interesting thing – I think the most interesting thing is going to be graduation, just because I’ve attended every graduation before mine; I know what a typical graduation looks like, but I have no idea what ours is going to look like. And we also won’t be able to do a rehearsal before the graduation, which normally you do – two to three days of rehearsals. It’s going to be something, like, we’re going to have to fi gure out as we go, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. Q: And you are only allowed two guests? A: Yes. Two guests per student. A HAPPY BEGINNING: This is the senior sunrise photo that Kiley Ronan and the SHS Class of 2020 took on the fi rst day of the 2019-20 school year last August. Kiley is standing in the middle rear, just behind the center stand to the goal post at Stackpole Field. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate) Q: So what happens with other family members, besides the parents? Like, you have three brothers. A: Yes. We’re leaving the brothers home, that’s for sure. And honestly, I don’t know if they’re sad about it. Q: I was wondering if they had something set up where folks who couldn’t be at Stackpole could view it at another location. A: They might be working on it. I think they might be working on two more guests, so it could be four guests per family, but right now, it’s just two. And I think they are working on getting it on some sort of TV channel, like a video recording – something like that. Even if it’s not live, it will be prerecorded so you can at least watch it later. Q: If it’s just two guests, I guess Nana and Grampy are going to be upset. A: I know. I know. A lot of people are missing out. It’s not fair, but I’m just grateful that we get two [passes for guests]. You want people in the stands, so at least you get somebody. Q: And, in most cases it’s going to be mom and dad. A: Yeah. The two closest people to you, whoever you want that to be. Q: Okay. Let’s talk about what you’re going to do after you graduate. A: So, after I graduate, I will be attending the College of the Holy Cross and I am going to be majoring in Psychology on the Pre-Health track. And I’m hoping to go to graduate school to become a physical therapist. Q: Now, do you have anyone in your family who has been to Holy Cross? A: No, I don’t. I toured that school, and right when I was there, I loved it. It was my top choice. It was also my “reach school,” so it was like I wasn’t positive that I was going to get in. And I did and I’m so happy I’m going there. Q: How many schools did you apply to? A: I think I applied to five, maybe, but I was honestly unsure about Holy Cross, like I didn’t know if I was going to get in. And when I was accepted, I knew that was the school I was going to be going to. Q: Now, you got a scholastic scholarship. Did you get an athletic scholarship, too? A: No, I didn’t – just scholastic. I’m hoping that once I get there, I can maybe walk onto a team or play club. I’m defi nitely hoping to continue in sports somehow. Q: That’s probably not going to happen in the fall, with collegiate sports being shut down at a lot of places. A: No, it’s defi nitely not going to happen in the fall, so maybe I will shoot for next year. Q: Now, one of the good things that I have observed in the past – those community and public service projects involving the senior class – has the pandemic kind of clamped down on that, because of the social distancing? A: Yeah. A lot of things within our community have been cancelled. But now, with some restrictions being lifted, I know that some things are starting back up again, so hopefully, we will get to normal. Q: Has there been, like, a special public service project that has prevailed which was attached to this year’s graduating class? A: What sort of public service? Q: Well, you have Founders Day. I know you raise money every time people throw a ball at a target, trying to make a seat collapse and knock somebody down into the dunk tank. A: Yeah. We did that at the beginning of our senior year, so that actually went well for us, so I’m grateful we were able to do that, but we really didn’t have anything planned toward the end of the year. And then, obviously with this all happening, we didn’t get to plan anything. Q: Have you been doing a lot of Zoom, staying in touch with other students, particularly members of the Student Council and other class leaders? A: Yeah. Towards the end of the school year, we were doing weekly meetings, just keeping everybody updated, because everything was up in the air; we weren’t sure what was going to happen. We wanted to make sure everyone’s opinion was involved – and making sure everyone was happy – just keeping everybody in the loop, mainly, because when people don’t know anything, they get frustrated and they feel like nothing is going on. But we really were trying to make things happen for them. Q: As you look back on your school career at Saugus High, give me a couple of things that you are proudest of. A: I’m proudest of – defi nitely – the way we handled this situation. You interviewed me in August, and I would have never expected this is how we would be doing another interview at the end of the year. I don’t think anybody expected our senior year would be ending like this, so just the way they handled things, like the “Zooms” we were talking about. Everyone seemed to be really positive and optimistic – all just trying to get creative and think of things we can do, so defi nitely that. And I’m proud of how we handled school when we were in it. I think we actually made the most of it: Sports teams excelled; Drama Club; we got the most out of it while we were there. And I think we defi nitely cherished our time there. Q: The other student leaders I talked to … they said they felt more of a closeness out of necessity. It’s almost, like, the class had a huge chip on its shoulder because it didn’t get the respect and recognition – which translated into action by the town – things like the banners around town with the photos of every senior class member of Saugus High. A: Oh, defi nitely. Personally, I feel so honored [by the banners]. I think they [town offi - cials] did a great job – the banners on the light poles and our names on a billboard – they did a great job honoring us; I defi - nitely think so. And I think this [the COVID-19 pandemic] will unite the Class of 2020 – not just in the Saugus community – but all communities. The Class of 2020 is always going to be remembered. Q: What do you want to be when you grow up? A: When I grow up, I want to be a physical therapist. Q: Any specialty? A: Right now, just a physical therapist. Once I get more into school and college, I’ll get a more direct way of where I want to go. But for right now, I’m just hoping to be a physical therapist with a psych background, because I want to make sure that … I think the mental has a lot to do with the physical, so you can understand what’s going on in their [the patients’] minds and to help them physically feel better; so defi nitely, I want to help people. It’s what I hope to do when I’m older. Q: And your volunteer work during High School? A: During my High School career, I was involved in the National Honor Society Class Board. Q: I meant particular volunteer activities around town, like doing something at the Senior Center. A: We did a Senior Citizen Senior Prom last year through the National Honor Society. We were going to do the same thing this year, but things got cut short. And we did Relay For Life last year for the National Honor Society, and I think it happened virtually this year. Just a lot of changes, but we definitely had some service projects in line. Q: What’s been your inspiration to get through this tough time? Like somebody you look up to as a role model? A: Definitely, my mom – I think not only during these times – but she’s just so positive. Even with all of the senior stuff getting canceled, she’s just done a great job in trying to brainstorm with me on the things we can do. And I think she has always inspired me – just, like, how she handles situations. She just makes the tough times easier. Definitely. Q: That’s good. So, she’s obviously going to be one of the two guests that you will have there at graduation. A: Yeah, she is defi nitely one of the two that I have invited. Q: Anything else that you would like to share to tell the people of Saugus about this year’s Saugus High graduates? How should this class be remembered? A: Just for the Class of 2020 – I think we have cherished our time at Saugus High and have done the best we could. This is not how we expected it to end, but I think we are going to be better for it. I think we’ve learned some life lessons that will be with us for adulthood and entering the real world. I think we had to grow up earlier than we wanted to, but I think we are going to be better for it – defi nitely.

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