The Alvirne High School Class of 2024 is graduating on June 13, and ahead of graduation, the Hudson Times spoke to the class valedictorian, Jodi Watterson, and salutatorian, Lindsay Normand, about their high school careers.
“It is an honor to receive this distinction,” Normand wrote in an email. “I feel as though the work I have put in the past 4 years is getting recognized, and I know there are so many other intelligent students that worked just as hard.”
Making memories with friends is what she pointed to as her favorite moments during her school career, so far.
“I will always remember the teachers I have had over the years and the ways they encouraged me academically and personally,” Normand said. “Some of my favorite moments in recent times have been events through the clubs I am a part of and the Floral Design classes I have been taking since sophomore year.”
Normand and her classmates also faced challenges including beginning their freshman year during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were only in school every other day and certain restrictions made it hard for the year to be considered “normal.” There were no pep rallies, and the classes were so small it was hard for me to get to know more people,” she wrote. “My history class had 5 people, including me! To this day I still feel as though I never had a freshman year and my high school experience technically started when I was a sophomore.”
Following graduation, Normand is planning on attending Suffolk University in Boston for Communications and Journalism.
“In terms of career goals all I know is that I would like to write,” she said. “At six years old I decided I wanted to write a book so it would be cool if I could make six-year-old me happy someday too.”
Watterson said she is “honored” to earn the distinction of valedictorian saying she is “proud of all of the work I’ve put in to get to this point over the last four years.”
“The best moments from my time in the Hudson School District have been meeting some of my favorite people,” she wrote in an email. “I have met lifelong friends here, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them. We have shared many memories and inside jokes that I will cherish forever. I’m also very lucky to have had many awesome teachers throughout my twelve years in Hudson. The things they’ve taught me will stay with me always. There are so many people that are important to me here, especially at Alvirne, and the constant throughout all of my favorite memories is them.”
Watterson explained in her experience “the hardest part of high school isn’t managing the work itself; it’s managing the work on top of anything life throws your way.”
“Every year brings something new to adjust to, and it can be difficult to keep everything on track,” she said. “Trying to figure out life and keep up with all my work has been the most challenging part of high school, but I think it has only prepared me for the future.”
Watterson said next year she will be attending UMass Boston.
“I’m very excited to become a Beacon in the fall where I will be majoring in English,” she said. “I hope to work in the publishing industry in the future, as I love all things literature. Being involved in the process of creating great books is the dream!”
Editor’s Note: Multiple emails were sent to Essayist Sadie Rogers that were not returned for this story. Rogers was one of the top three graduates.
