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Schools

From One Generation of Westfield High Alumni to the Next

A decade later, members of the Westfield High Class of 2000 impart advice to the students in this year's graduating class.

As seniors at Westfield High School walked down the aisle on the field behind the high school Wednesday to receive their diplomas, they were filled with much excitement at the thought of going to college or onto another next step of their lives. They may now feel a sense of exhilaration, independence and hope.

But underneath all those feelings, they may also feel a little angst. For the first time, they will be on their own, out into the "real world" as the saying goes. They may feel like they're entering an uncertain world where one must always have his or her wits about them.

But they can take comfort in the fact that exactly 10 years ago, Westfield High students, just like them, walked down the aisle with the same excitement and fear. And those alums have accomplished so much already and they have some advice for their younger counterparts.

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Westfield High Class of 2000 alum Patrick Touhy advised the students to always give 100% to anything they do. He said there's no substitute for hard work, even when times are tough.

"They have to understand that anything worth earning in life is hard, and that they must be willing to sacrifice the instant gratification of things in order to achieve their goals," Tuohy said.

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Touhy is a special education teacher at Union High School. But some of the Westfield High grads may know him because he's the assistant varsity boys lacrosse coach at the high school. He was recently named New Jersey's Assistant Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year.

Touhy had another piece of advice for the class of 2010, which may stem from his experience as a Marine. He served two tours in Iraq.

"I would tell them to be people of character and principle, to keep others first in their life and to try to do the right thing at all times," Tuohy said.

Alumnae Mairin Priestley, who's studying to receive her master's in Human Resources from Rutgers University, had some specific academic advice as students head into their first year in college.

She recommended students take it easy academically during their first semester by either taking fewer credits or easier classes.

"You'll need time to adjust to living on your own, having less structure in your week, learning your campus, meeting people and joining clubs," she said.

Priestley said you can always make up credits in later semesters and she advised students not to spend too much time worrying over what major they choose.

"Don't sweat too much about your major. Six years after graduation [from college] none of my friends are in the same job they started right after graduation and very few are even in the same industry. So study what you love, take the classes with the professors who are the most interesting and enjoy your summers," Priestley said.

And if things get too overwhelming out in the "real world," alum Michael Kivetz reminds students you can always come home.

"When you leave Westfield and find yourself growing up, I always find it nice to come home. It makes you feel like a kid all over again," Kivetz said.

A common thread of advice between all the alumni of the Class of 2000 to the Class of 2010: Good luck!

Editor's Note: To see what a Westfield High School teacher said to graduates at her high school alma mater, click here.

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