Graduates to Do Big Things This Summer and Beyond

As they receive thier diplomas today, seniors at are looking at what's next, what lies ahead.

Whether it is going off to college in the fall, or doing a bit of travelling, it is an excited time for these students who are just delving into their young adult life.

Three Westwood seniors - Harry Clapsis, Tommy Hu and Matt Hurley - recently shared with Westwood Patch their plans for the summer and beyond.

Clapsis, for one, will be heading off to the University of Pittsburgh this fall, where he will be studying Economics.

“I chose Pitt because the city is absolutely fantastic, the school gives me the best chance to succeed in the future, and I know that I will get opportunities to learn in many more ways than the standard lecture hall,” said Clapsis.

But before he heads there, Clapsis has plenty of other plans. He's already hopped on a plane bound for Greece, where he will be visiting family. Being of Greek heritage, Clapsis travels to the country every summer to reconnect with relatives and Greek customs.

“Now that I am moving on into my adult life, I realize that there won’t be as many opportunities for me to travel and go see my family,” Clapsis said. “I will be abroad for a little more than two months until I come back to Westwood to prepare for college.”

Clapsis is excited for all that the future holds, especially after living what he calls a standard high school life. Now, he looks forward to creating his own future and he said he feels that college is only the beginning. College, he said, will allow him to focus on what he really wants to learn as well as allowing him to take control of his own life.

“College will make me who I am in five years,” Clapsis said. “Regarding high school, creating a good core of friends who will care about me for longer than just my high school years has been one of the greatest experiences in my life. Knowing that I can call one of these friends at any time and with any problem and they will help me no matter what has been absolutely exhilarating."

Meanwhile, Tommy Hu’s plans took a bit of a turn. A planned trip to Japan with a group of friends was altered after the recent earthquake in March, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Now, the trip has been modified to a road trip somewhere in the United States.

Hu said that the plans are still up in the air, but as of now his summer will consist mostly of working and being with friends before heading to Northeastern University for college in the fall. He is currently applying for a job at Northeastern’s ResNet, the university's on-campus tech support group.

“Seeing as I will be going to school there next year, I thought this was an excellent opportunity to get to know the people and the campus where I will be spending the next five years of my life,” said Hu. “I picked Northeastern because of the many opportunities that they have given me. They have many interdisciplinary fields that mesh with my interest of computer science that gives me a wide variety of possible career choices to decide from.”

Hu said the school's co-op program was a key factor in him choosing to go there, and said he feels that in the current job market, experience working in one’s field of study is a huge asset to finding a good job straight out of college.

Hu said that his favorite part of high school has been all the relationships and lasting bonds that he has created with friends and classmates.

“In high school, I discovered the people I can call true friends,” he said. “I found people with true passion for their talents. I have found selfless people that think nothing of helping others at their own sake. I have found people with great determination and tenacity. Interacting with all of these people has been one of the most enriching experiences I think I will ever be subjected to in my life.”

Hu’s friends have also helped him throughout high school, he said, as they have been there to support him throughout the journey. He noted that his parents have worked tirelessly to give him what he needs to prepare for the future. He takes their advice to heart and feels that their support has molded him into a better person.

“While it often didn't seem like it at the time, they've always had my best interests at heart and I appreciate them for putting up for my 17 years of whining and complaining,” said Hu.

As for the future beyond college, Hu is extremely excited to go off into the world by himself. He does have some jitters about being independent, as many students do, but he said it is refreshing to know that he will be in complete control of what happens in his future.

“Everyone always has a basic plan of what’s going to happen but rarely will it be followed completely through,” said Hu. “If my past experiences have taught me anything, it’s that nothing is ever going to go completely as planned. While that seems to be a bad thing, often these detours will be beneficial in unexpected ways. You just have to embrace this uncertainty.”

And for Matt Hurley, a trip to London lies ahead after graduation. 

Hurley will visit the country for two weeks with three friends; his father currently teaches a course over there, and he will be staying in a townhouse that his parents have rented. 

"When I come back, I hope to have a job at the airport," Hurley said. "If I don't get it, then I'm not too worried. Iv'e been saving for months for college."

Before heading off to St. Louis University this fall for aviation management and flight science, Hurley will be working with over the summer and hopes to take some trips to Cape Cod in his plane as well. 

"There will be lots of time spent at pools, fishing, playing Frisbee, and lounging around enjoying the weather," Hurley said.

As for his dream of a career in aviation, Hurley said St. Louis University was a perfect fit.

"They have one of the best aviation programs in the nation," he said. "It's in a city, and I have relatives out there, so I definitely made the perfect choice."

And in terms of anxiety of the future, Hurley said he's more excited for what lies ahead than he is nervous.

"I'm nervous to be living on my own and away from friends and family whom I've known my whole life, but at the same time I'm stoked to make new friends, study abroad, try new things, and take classes that interest me," he said.

Westwood High School will hold its graduation ceremonies today at 2 p.m.