Berlin High School Graduates Challenged To Fight For What They Think They Deserve

The weather outside was sweltering as the Berlin High School Class of 2013 waited to enter Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University.

The soon-to-be-graduates were nervous and anxious in waiting to get inside the hall. Once inside, however, they looked cool in the air conditioning and thoroughly enjoyed the speches and music.

Kevin Pirruccio, the valedictorian, headed to Yale University in the fall, told his classmates that they didn't deserve anything just because they graduated. He said anything they want for the rest of their life they were going to have to fight for.

"And so, we are left with an undeniable certainty regarding the attainment of success: we will begin in this world deserving absolutely nothing, so we must be willing to work hard enough to ensure that there will be absolutely nothing we don’t deserve." Pirruccio said. "It is imperative that we realize that if we don’t want something badly enough to take opportunities to work hard to achieve it, thousands of equally qualified and competitive people will."

The ceremony began with the "Pomp and Circumstance," "Star Spangled Banner" and "Berlin High School Alma Mater" as the seniors entered and found their seats. 

President of the Class of 2013 Nathan Giaccone welcomed his classmates and the family and friends to the graduation. 

Salutatorian Zaneta Subernat talked about how each of her classmates have taken their own individual paths to get to this point. Subernat, born in Poland, said that however students got to this point didn't matter as long as they took pride in how they did it.

Then Pirruccio gave his stirring speech.

"I really liked our valedictorian's speech," said graduate Kevin Main. "It made you think about the past and the future and put a nice cap on all the years we've been in school together.

Board of Education President Gary Brochu awarded the diplomas to the graduates.