Nick Perkins Photo
Soon-to-be graduates of Mauro-Sheridan “become firefighters” and thank their families.
Fire Chief John Alston Jr. addressed a new group of “firefighters” Wednesday — 51 eight-graders about to obtain their diplomas from Mauro-Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School.
”For a moment, you’re all going to become firefighters,” Alston said among a series of air horns and microphone-screeches during a featured speech at the Fountain Street K‑8 school’s commencement ceremony. Now face your support system and give them a round of applause.”
The students all wore caps and gowns, with some having bedazzled their caps with flowers and parodies of Drake album covers.
FIre Chief John Alston Jr. addresses the students.
In Alston’s speech, he told the graduates that “you can get there from here.” He said that when he was 4, he wanted to be a firefighter because he liked fire trucks. He managed to turn that into a career in New Jersey, and now as New Haven’s fire chief.
Even though he managed to achieve his goal from a young age, he reminded the students that “every time you move forward things will change at the same time you change.”
Alston advised students to work hard: that some accomplishments flow easily “downhill,” reaching a goal often requires working “uphill.”
He told the students to all stand and proclaim “I can do it!” whenever he clapped. He clapped three times, and the energy built.
He reminded them to remember their math and reading lessons. When he was in 8th grade, he didn’t like math, he recalled; now that he has to handle a $35 million budget, he’s learned to like it.
Students Aaliyah Padilla and Haley Violante-Fletcher: excited to attend Hopkins and West Haven High, respectively.
Graduates Aaliyah Padilla and Haley Violante-Fletcher said they found the speech inspiring. Violante-Fletcher said that it was also a nice surprise, since they had seen Alston on Zoom throughout the year; this ceremony allowed them to see him in person. Both Padilla and Violante-Fletcher said that they found the commencement to be fun.
Students Liam Abbew and Inigo Gonzales.
Another student, Liam Abbew, said that after helping to set up the area for the ceremony, he was impressed by how well put together it was. He, along with fellow student Inigo Gonzales, called Alston’s speech “very moving.”