Graduating high school represents a milestone moment. The end of high school closes a significant life chapter and serves as a launchpad for young adults as they embark on a new world full of hope and challenges.
Earlier this week, The Overlook sat down with the three top honor students from Onteora High School to discuss where they are headed and what they are carrying with them—from a community that raised them, a school that shaped them—and what they will be facing in the global community we all reside in.
Our one-hour conversation with valedictorian Gavin Rice of Phoenicia, salutatorian Alexia Melendez of Bearsville, and Principal Award recipient Cococo (Coco) Asada of Boiceville and Chichester touched on many topics that included the impact of AI to American politics and the state of the world to how their local community shaped who they are today.
What follows is our Q and A with the honors trio and we believe you’ll see that their hopes are wide; their concerns are taking shape and their voices remind us of what it means to grow up in this time and in this place.
Do you have concerns about how social media is used today?
Melendez: I use it to entertain myself, for the news, and to catch up with other people.
Rice: It’s like a time sponge and I am guilty of wasting hours scrolling Instagram and TikTok.
Asada: The majority of our class uses social media, and after graduating, it will be the main source of being able to keep in touch.
Onteora was one of the first school districts to ban the use of cell phones for students during the school day. How did that work for you in your senior year?
Asada: We were fighting to have our phones back the last few weeks of school because we wanted to take pictures of those memories to keep for the future. But, we didn’t get them back.
Rice: It didn’t really stop a lot of people from using their phones. But, the punishment for doing so was pretty strictly enforced.
How do you stay current on the news and what’s happening?
Melendez: For me, the news is most accessible (on social media channels) and I also get news from The New York Times about something that catches my eye.
Rice: My parents are always watching TV, and usually the news is on and social media also informs me on what’s going on.
Asada: I get news blurbs through my social feed that includes the Times and The Washington Post.
Your high school class is among the first to begin to figure out how to navigate AI technology. How is that working for you?
Rice: Some of our (senior year) classes encouraged using AI for practice, and to make questions we can ask. We were never allowed to use it to write anything.
Asada: It’s now seen as a tool by teachers, and I think it makes us more comfortable to use it. It’s really up to you to determine where you draw the line of cheating or using it as a tool.
Melendez: It’s kind of a cool resource if you know how to use it.
How would you characterize the state of the world today and what do you view as some of the biggest concerns facing society?
Asada: I think there’s an aspect of fear, but I think that’s also just about growing up and leaving the house after you turn 18 and going into a space and environment you are unfamiliar with. Today, tensions are rising, but there’s rarely a time that’s peaceful ever at any point in history. We are meant to handle a lot of things, and maybe the good in the world will combat the bad. I am concerned about how the federal government is dealing with freedom of speech and freedom of expression (around the ICE protests). It should not in any way be stifled as it is, and I think that both sides, no matter the political standing, believe that you should have your First Amendment right.
Melendez: I’m worried. I feel like everything feels kind of disconnected right now. My big concerns are climate change and human rights, and education is really important.
Rice: I’m kind of scared for the future. But, I want to do my part to make change as an engineer and I want to help people (in eliminating and managing new diseases.). I think body autonomy is pretty important and the overturning of Roe v. Wade has a huge effect on the country.
Looking into a time capsule, where do you see yourselves 10 years from now, in 2035?
Melendez: I hope to have a house and a cat, have a steady income and am able to travel. I see myself (after college) working in my family rental business.
Rice: I’m looking maybe at being in Europe. And, I am thinking of becoming a biomedical physician. And, I plan to have cats. In terms of a specific concentration in medical school, something that is really interesting to me is the field of prosthetic organs.
Asada: I hope to work at either the UN, the State Department or a non-profit organization helping displaced immigrants and influencing immigration and other international policies. And, maybe have a dog and a house. That sounds pretty cool. Dogs always help out!
The Democratic and the Republican party historically have controlled governing in the U.S. What are your thoughts on the two-party system?
Asada: I think the system will self-destruct on its own. It seems to be cracking at the moment. It’s not in our best interest to flip our government upside down, but swinging in the way towards dictatorship or anything, that is not the core of what the U.S. stands for. I don’t think our current President is any reflection of the Republican party. I think a lot of people are starting to see that.
Melendez: A couple of years ago, I would have totally said yes to running (for a political office). But not now.
Rice: I like the idea of a democracy. But, it doesn’t look too good where it’s going right now.
As you look back at your high school days, what stands out as an “Onteora Moment” for you?
Melendez: It was marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City. It was our little Onteora marching band spread out with our black feathers!
Rice: The Onteora Rocket Club and going to the nationals in Virginia.
Asada: Our senior prank this year was gathering in the school parking lot and pitching tents and chairs, and it was totally unplanned at 5 am and an eagle flies above us. It was like we were united as a class and our mascot flew overhead. It doesn’t get any more American than this.
The takeaway from The Overlook’s conversation with Onteora High School’s top graduates is clear: each generation dares to dream—and to chart a new course.
As we wrapped up our interview with valedictorian Gavin Rice, salutatorian Alexia Melendez, and Principal’s Award recipient Cococo “Coco” Asada, we asked each to share a snippet from the commencement address they planned to deliver to the 125 members of the Class of 2025 on Thursday, June 26.
Rice, who graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors and Distinction in Math and Science, will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this fall to study biomedical engineering. His parting message: “As we go forward into our college experience, let us remember how we lifted each other up and we have to keep doing that.”
Melendez, who earned an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors and Distinction in Science, along with a Seal of Biliteracy and a Seal of Civic Readiness, will study business administration at Binghamton University. Her message to her classmates: “Together, we have learned many lessons—not all from the curriculum—and that will continue as we continue to grow in the future.”
Asada, who graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors and seals in French, Japanese, and Civic Readiness, will attend The George Washington University to study international affairs. Reflecting on her time at Onteora, she said: “To sum up my experience here, it’s been amazing for me and my parents. Being different here and being accepted here has just been amazing.”
Scott Widmeyer is co-founder of The Overlook. Reach him at scott@theoverlooknews.com