Juliana Luong also contributed to this article
On a sunny day, students and families piled into the Macdonald Stadium, to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2022. Some were nervous, some were excited, as the seniors gathered towards the back of the stadium and waited to be escorted to their seats. The graduation began with a word from Gary Christenson, Mayor of Malden, and Malden High School Principal, Chris Mastrangelo followed by speeches from Class of ‘22 Orator Tony Giech, Salutatorian Olivia Chen, Class President Julie Huynh, and Valedictorian Jing Reng.
Graduate Imani Ligon Chambers explained that she was both “nervous and excited” to graduate. She wants to thank both her teachers and friends for “being there through my craziness and just dealing with the drama I produce.” She adds that a few years ago, she had not thought of graduation as a big deal.Chambers will be attending Marymount Manhattan College in New York with an undeclared major in the fall.
Another graduate, Zion Maffe, who will be attending Clark University, wants underclassmen to know that “College is not…some standard or something, not something you have to live up to…don’t let family pressure of any kind force you to do something that you don’t want if college is not for you.” He goes on to advise that students should simply “live life and get that money.”
Photos by Juliana Luong.
