Congrats AB Class of 2013!

Congratulations to the Class of 2013 of AB! It’s been four pivotal years for the senior class, who have, as of Sunday, taken their first steps into adulthood.  Although the class of 2013 had over 400 students, after going through six years at AB together, they still ultimately at the end felt like a family. For six years, they have shared lunch tables, classrooms, textbooks and lockers. And just as much as they've experienced the usual high school samenesses, they've gone through much change as well. Since 2009, these seniors have experienced and adapted to monumental changes at AB. It was their junior year when the new abschools email system provided an easier means of communication between teachers and students, and recycling efforts were implemented in the cafeteria. It was their senior year when advisory added an 11 minute class into their schedules almost every other day. The class of 2013 showed their incredible diversity of talents with their events such a fabulous fashion show, and started a successful and enjoyable tradition: Mr. AB, our very own male pageant show. They ruled the high school and made that a well known fact at the senior tradition of dress-up day, where they put on skits and wore costumes on display for the whole school to see. Many dedicated their own time to pursuing their own goals through the opportunities of Senior Project and internships. They led our sports teams to state and regional championships, our science and academic decathalon teams to nationals, and achieved many other accomplishments. Individual students have been recognized for a variety of artistic, athletic and academic talents.

               It’s easy to complain about school, the exams and essays, the 7:23 am first period bell. But without AB, where would we be today? Where would we have found our closest friends, our best teachers and coaches, our center of the community? I think we all, whether freshmen or seniors or alumni, have so much to thank AB for. These towns, this school, was our youthhood. For most of us, it became the focus of our lives for ten months our of twelve every year.

“AB, you have given us so much. We have stronger muscles, brains, and hearts. We have such intangibles within us as empathy, and humility, and self-awareness, and morality, and knowledge.” – Julie Merchant, Senior Speech Winner; Graduation, June 9th 2013.

But to the rest of us still with more of AB in our near future, and more specifically my own Class of 2014…

One year to go! The countdown begins!