Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone has done an admirable job of leading multiple classes of students at Mainland Regional High School through the tumultuous years of the COVID-19 pandemic, uniting the student body under his motto of One Family, One School, One Community and never missing a graduation ceremony.
He clearly cares about the students and their advancement from nubile novices to strong seniors prepared for the next step. Which is why it’s surprising that he does not see that by singling out the best and brightest among the class during graduation leaves those whose achievements may not ring as loudly feeling less worthy of the honor being bestowed on them during the commencement ceremony.
I was a fringe member of the Class of 1988 — maybe a member of the C social group, at best.
Having moved to Somers Point just weeks before high school made it even harder to fit in with any group. That’s why I was a member of the Misfits Club.
I was intelligent but unmotivated. My parents didn’t graduate from high school and my family did not value education. I was in the top 40 percent of my class — 113 out of 289, if I remember correctly — nothing to brag about. I was invisible to teachers because I neither excelled nor failed. I also was smart enough to avoid getting caught and punished for many of my misdeeds, so even notoriety eluded me.
My family was poor in Pennsylvania and remained poor in Somers Point. That’s why I was a member of the Free Lunch Club.
I worked full time as a freshman and continued to do so all through high school because I was a member of the Forced to Buy Own Necessities Club. In fact, I started earning my own money at age 11 with a newspaper delivery route — no bikes, no cars, just walking up steep hills after school in all weather.
Working gave me little time to take part in sports or extracurricular activities. That’s why I was a member of the Nobodies Club.
My parents often fought because the money they made was ill-spent and there were underlying issues, of course, that don’t need to be explained here. That’s why I was a member of the Dysfunctional Family Club.
I was also a member of the Plays Hackey Sack in the Smoking Lounge Club — yes, the ’80s were certainly a different time — the Smokes in the Bathroom Club and the Cuts Class Club.
None of the many clubs that I was in was recognized during graduation.
I remember sitting there while members of championship sports teams were asked to stand and be acknowledged, as members of the National Honor Society were asked to stand, as members of academic teams, mock trial, band and drama club were asked to stand. My sorry behind remained seated, without any special acknowledgement.
And that’s sad, because simply graduating, for me, was a much bigger accomplishment than for the others.
I lacked support at home and also at school. That’s why I was a member of the Paid for My Own SAT Exam and College Application Club. I had no transportation, but that didn’t stop me from getting to Stockton State College because I was president of the Hitchhikers Club.
Despite my lack of excellence in high school, I later became a member of the First Person in My Family to Graduate College Club, the Award-Winning Journalist Club, the Father of the Year Club and the New Jersey Press Association (an actual club).
Last week, during his speech to the graduates and their families, Marrone directed those who graduated summa cum laude to stand, those who graduated magna cum laude to stand, those who graduated cum laude to stand, and on and on, in seeming descending order.
Not once did he direct those who struggled with mental health through the pandemic and graduated nonetheless to stand, those who did not have a great head-start on life but graduated nonetheless to stand, those whose parents are drug addicts or deadbeats but graduated nonetheless to stand.
I don’t think everyone “deserves a trophy,” as those who win trophies always say about those of us who don’t, but I could see disappointment in the faces of the students who knew they would not be standing, their heads slowly dropping as each group was recognized.
Had they not accomplished something worth note? Graduation is a day for everyone — simply to celebrate the culmination of all of the work necessary to get there.
The athletes had gotten their trophies and ribbons, the academics had gotten their scholarships and awards, the National Honor Society had held its dinner banquet. Why do they need to be singled out again on a day that is for the entire Class of 2022?
This is one tradition I wouldn’t mind seeing ended before members of the Class of 2023 are forced to hang their heads during what should be one of the happiest and most memorable times of their lives, their accomplishment diminished by the guy at the top.
Craig D. Schenck is an editor for the Ocean City Sentinel, Upper Township Sentinel and The Sentinel of Somers Point, Linwood and Northfield.
