Stuart Rabner, New Jersey’s chief justice and a PHS graduate, discusses his fond memories of school with former classmate Sheila Graham Woodson at the “Friend in Youth” dinner. (Photo by Jalen Maspono)
By Henry Hernandez
At the annual “Friend of Youth” appreciation dinner, held at the Sevilla Restaurant, many PHS students were recognized for going above and beyond the expectations placed on all students. The sponsor of the dinner was the Optimist Club of Passaic.
Mr. Sheridan, member of the Optimist Club and advisor of Club Octagon, organized the dinner to honor PHS students who uphold the Optimist Youth Code and Creed. The code includes truths such as “To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.”
This year students that upheld this high standard for themselves and the school were, Kashim Cooks, Isaac Guzman, Briana Calderon, Dayanara Manan, Amari Gawthney, Salvador Brocado, Aljannna Wilson, Lenny Polance, Andrea Muniz, Oscar Olalde, Emily Javier, Stephanie Vazquez, Luis Ortega, Saira Garcia, Natalie Gaspar, Mitul Asawla, Mary Siri, Dominique Barksdale, Kameron Malloy, Christopher Velez, Ashley Cody, Ambrosia Monroe, Kiana Larson, Joshua Zuniga, and Jonathan Rodriguez.
These students were treated to the recognition they well deserve, a wonderful meal, and even a special guest keynote speaker and PHS graduate, N.J. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner. The 1978 valedictorian, Rabner went on to attend Princeton and then on to a career in law. However it was not the students who were inspired by the speaker, but rather it was Rabner who was inspired by the stories of personal struggle from Optimist Club honorees.
Chief Justice Rabner told students that they can measure up and that they should just take it, “one assignment at a time.”
The dinner was a representation of the best that Passaic has to offer, past, present, and future. Perhaps the part of the creed that everyone can stand to learn from is, “To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.”
Congratulations to all involved and especially those honored.
