More than 400 graduate from Smithtown HS East

A crowd of about 1,000 gathered to celebrate the graduation of Smithtown High School East’s Class of 2011 on Thursday evening.

Clad in red and white, the more than 400 graduates filed onto the football field to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1.”

“Rain or shine, this is one of the best days of your life,” said Principal Edwin C. Thompson to the school's newest alumni. His words referred to a stormy gray sky that threatened to rain as it had earlier that afternoon.

Mary Cahill, the assistant superintendent for instruction and administration, beseeched students to “think before you hit send,” referring to the new trends in social media.

Cahill also advised the graduates to believe in themselves and maintain their integrity even when it is difficult to do so. She quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet and essayist, who is believed to have said “self-trust is the first secret to success.”

The graduation’s honorary speaker, Sanjay Palat, echoed the previous comments and encouraged his fellow classmates to push themselves through the challenges they will face in college. The honorary speaker is elected by the class instead of awarding the title of valedictorian.

Many students and their relatives in the stands expressed disbelief that the ceremony was held despite the muddy fields and wet bleachers from an earlier storm. 

But Kelli Audley, 18, who plans to attend Suffolk Community College in the fall, said she wasn’t upset the festivities went on as planned “because I just wanted to get it over with,” she said with a laugh.

The threat of inclement weather didn’t seem to stop many others like Rachel Hirschfield of Nesconset, who came prepared with an umbrella and dry lawn chair.

Her son, Eric, “will go to SUNY Plattsburgh,” Hirschfield said proudly.