A 'complete circle'

Graduations signal a new beginning for the Class of 2011, By Nancy Kriz HIGHLAND MILLS - Feelings of pride and accomplishment will be felt tonight as community members gather at high schools throughout the area to honor the Class of 2011 at graduation ceremonies. Seniors like James Beyer of Monroe-Woodbury High School will toss their caps in the air at the conclusion of speeches, signaling the beginning of the next phase of their lives. “For me, it’s probably going to feel unreal,” said Beyer, who will turn 18 at the end of this month. “It’s amazing how fast this year has gone by. But it’s going to be a great feeling to have everyone back together for one last time.” After tonight, all of the new Monroe-Woodbury alumni will go their separate ways to colleges nationwide, to the military or into the workforce. A foundation of family and friends Beyer made note of three things he’ll take away with him as he readies himself to enter Fordham University this fall as a business major. “One of the most important things is hard work,” said Beyer, who is the youngest of five children to graduate from Monroe-Woodbury in the Beyer family. “The more (work) you put in, the more you’re going to get out of it.” He also felt the encouragement of his family was a key to his high school success. “Family support is huge,” Beyer said. “Especially your parents. They are the ones who guide you through everything, especially when it’s time for college.” Also important to Beyer is his network of friends. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to have close friends,” he said. “I look back at a few years ago compared to now. I’m going to miss the new friendships I’ve made. They are always going to be there for me and they’ll always be the ones I can talk to about anything. I feel like everybody is friends with everyone. You just hope you’ll stay friends forever. Social networks will help us to stay connected.” Those bonds of friendship, he felt, helped the school community as it coped with student tragedies this past year. “It brought the school together tremendously,” said Beyer, who played varsity basketball as a forward and center and who was concert master for the school’s Wind Ensemble. “It changed something in our heads. It made us really know how important it is to look out for other people, even if we’re not close to them. It made you realize how important it is to reach out to other people, whether they need help or not.” Beyer spent 13 years within the Monroe-Woodbury school system, beginning with kindergarten in the now defunct Harriman Elementary School. “I remember my first day of kindergarten vaguely,” he said. “My teacher was Mrs. Mitchell. The one thing I remember is I was pretty scared and pretty nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I remember the other kids had that same scared look on their faces. These are some of the kids I am good friends with today. That was the epitome of childhood. “Those were the good old days.” Beyer moved onto the Smith Clove and Central Valley elementary schools before joining others in middle school. “Those were the awkward days for many of us,” said Beyer, who was also treasurer of the high school’s Athletic Club and a member of the school’s chapter of the National Honor Society. “It seems so far ago. It’s hard to remember, but it was when we started our 'growing-up stage.’” 'My turn’ What about high school? “High school is extremely tough,” he said. “That first day, that freshman year, it can be pretty intimidating. I dealt with it well but it did take getting used to the workload.” Now, the newness of fall college classes will reintroduce similar feelings of uneasiness and apprehension felt by Beyer in his younger days. “It has been a complete circle,” said Beyer of his kindergarten to 12th grade experience. “This fall, I’ll also be pretty scared and pretty nervous for what will happen next. It’s a new cycle. I’m hoping this cycle will complete itself the same way this year has….that same feeling of accomplishment and relief.” Like others, Beyer expects tonight to be filled with emotion. “I’m pretty sure my mother will be crying her eyes out,” he said. “I’m the youngest of five kids. I’ve grown up watching their high school and college graduations and now it’s my turn. “I’ll probably just hug her and say to her, 'I love you so much and you’re the biggest reason I’ve made it through this year.’ I’m not really sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I shed a tear or two myself.”

For me, it’s probably going to feel unreal. It’s amazing how fast this year has gone by. But it’s going to be a great feeling to have everyone back together for one last time.” Highland Mills resident James Beyer, who becomes a Monroe-Woodbury alumnus this evening