Chelmsford High School Class Of 2021 Graduates In Person

CHELMSFORD, MA — On Saturday afternoon the Chelmsford Class of 2021 graduated in person.

“I can not tell you how happy I am that we are here today that we are able to celebrate this milestone in your life together,” Chelmsford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jay Lang told the class, decked in caps and gowns outside at Simonian Stadium. “I am proud of you. The administration and staff of Chelmsford High School are proud of you. And the Community of Chelmsford is proud of you.”

Lang’s remarks were the precursor to several speakers who lauded the resilience and perseverance of the Class of 2021, their families and support systems.

Principal Stephen Murray heaped praise on the four class officers — Secretary Jackie Rigazio, Treasurer Luke Abraham, Class of '21 Vice President Sudeep Gubbala and President Peter Mitchell.

"No class officers had to grapple with the challenges that Peter, Jackie, Luke and Sudeep had to endure,” Murray told the audience gathered. “They had the weight of the senior class and their families on their shoulders. I cannot tell you how many plans, activities, fundraisers and proms they planned, and had to change what was changed multiple times over. Regardless, the Fab Four marched on."

Murray also spoke of alumnus Joseph Edward McShane, Jr., who left high school in 1964 – in the middle of his junior year – to join the U.S. Army and enter the war in Vietnam. In May, Murray presented McShane with his high school diploma, 55 years after leaving for Vietnam.

“I mention this story to you because of its relevance,” Murray said. “This pandemic changed so much of our lives in so many ways. Plans people made have changed. Goal lines for achievements and goal lines for events were moved. The past 15 months made me appreciate the old saying, ‘Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance among the raindrops.’ Your junior and senior year were like no others. However, you persevered.”

Salutatorian Connor Mitchell reminded the Class of 2021 of its “unshakeable spirit of resilience,” demonstrated even before the Covid-19 outbreak.

“At the beginning of freshman year, when we came to this building as frightened middle schoolers, each and every one of us made a conscious decision to adapt to, and even embrace, our new surroundings," Mitchell said.

Before the ceremonial presentation of the gavel to Class of 2022 President Marcos Hernandez, current president Peter Mitchell challenged his classmates to not look at what they missed during the past 15 months but to look for the good that happened.

“Yes, many of us didn’t get to perform our talent or our sport as a senior,” Mitchell said. “But did many of us not develop new hobbies and become passionate about something that we will carry with us our entire lives? I ask you to think about these moments where you reconnected with something that the pandemic took away from you. Seeing a close friend. A teacher you missed. A loved one.”

Valedictorian Michelle Ly urged her classmates to think of those who believed, made a difference and inspired them. She said she expected no one would have to look far.

Then she summed up the last year and graduates in eight words.

"This year was tough," she said. "But so are we.”