Class of 2025: Seniors at Manchester high schools reflect on graduation, their futures
High school graduation speeches often compel students to look to the right and then look to the left so they can mark the time, remember the faces and acknowledge all the work that got them there together.
On this graduation day, no matter where families and friends look, they'll see seniors from Manchester West, Central, Memorial and the School of Technology with eager faces and countless stories of perseverance.
Here are four such stories, one from each school, chosen by their principals as vanguards of what's possible.
Their names are Nono Omol, Sophia Boisvert, Billy Sylvester and Josselyn Ascencio. What follows is a snapshot of their journeys.
Nono Omol
Manchester High School West
Nono Omol, 19, is heading to Plymouth State University to play football and study marketing.
Nono Omol, Manchester High School West Class of 2025
Nono Omol is a 19-year-old graduating senior from Manchester High School West.
His goal is to dominate on the gridiron and then become a successful real estate agent.
Born in Tennessee, Omol moved to Manchester with his family, but things began to fracture in recent years as his mother's personal struggles led to her losing custody of him and his younger brother.
'My mom was making bad decisions. It was very hard for me,' Omol said. 'So, I had to go house to house with friends and other family members.'
During his junior year at West, he had to find a place to live and his brother was sent to live in Tennessee with Omol's stepfather.
Omol lives with a foster family and his other 'brother' now — a family that provided stability and love, he said.
'I live with one of my friends. It's pretty nice. He's my brother now. We have a mother, father, little sister, little brother and brother. And a dog. It's a nice family. Nice household.'
Omol said he might not be the best student, but he's at least average, and sports has given him an outlet to develop leadership skills. As a middle linebacker and defensive captain, Omol was as all-state football player who also excelled in track and field.
'We couldn't be prouder of him, and he's just an awesome kid, and he's come so far in just his maturity because he's kind of had to grow up on his own,' West Principal Richard Dichard said. 'No kid should have to grow up on their own without support systems at home due to some unforgiving circumstances.'
Dichard said Omol was a little rough around the edges when he first came to West, but he's become one of his favorite students through hard work and determination.
'When kids are self-reflective of their own stuff, that's what makes all the difference,' he said.
Nono Omol, Manchester High School West Class of 2025
Nono Omol is a 19-year-old graduating senior from Manchester High School West. He's heading to Plymouth State University to play football and study marketing. Here, he gets a pat on the head from West head coach Andrew Provencher during practice in August 2024.
Many of Omol's strengths could be seen on the football field, Dichard said.
'He was great. I mean, he was a difference-maker and one of the reasons we made the postseason this year,' he said. 'But he's also been a great leader in setting up success for the future.'
Sophia Boisvert
Manchester High School Central
Sophia Boisvert, 18, is heading to Dartmouth College in Hanover to study neuroscience.
Sophia Boisvert, Manchester High School Central Class of 2025
Sophia Boisvert, Manchester Central High School's valedictorian, in the front yard of her Manchester home on June 5.
Diagnosed with autism and ADHD early in her junior year, Boisvert has also suffered from anxiety since she was young.
'We didn't have all the pieces together until (her diagnosis),' said her mother, Kate. 'We were in crisis.'
Autism goes undiagnosed in many girls and young women because they present symptoms differently than males, researchers say.
'My emotional dysregulation that can occur sometimes is the biggest obstacle for me,' she said. 'It's taken a lot of time, work and reflection to figure out how to check in with myself and figure out how I'm feeling and what I need. What does my body need in order to be able to function well for the rest of the day, for the rest of the week, for the rest of the month?'
As is the case with many neurodivergent people, Boisvert's condition at times has been both an obstacle and a superpower of sorts. She excels in a wide variety of areas such as academics, competitive dance at the New Hampshire School of Ballet, music, and learning languages. She's been on the math team, participated in drama club, was selected for National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, and is the president of her school's Tri-M Music Honor Society,
Oh, and she's also Central's valedictorian.
Boisvert was a four-year all-state vocalist and plays the ukulele, guitar and bass. She wants to harness her musical chops while studying the relationship between music and neuroscience.
Sophia Boisvert, Manchester High School Central Class of 2025
Sophia Boisvert, Manchester Central High School's valedictorian, in the front yard of her Manchester home on June 5.
Her focus on achieving her goals is a driving force in her life, she said. High school valedictorian was on top of her list as early as middle school.
'I was like, 'Oh, there's a prize for being good at school? I want that,' she said. 'Having that goal, starting when I was younger, has helped me make strategic decisions as to what classes to take, how to manage my time, what skills to foster, what clubs to join.
'I wouldn't say that it's a burden. I would say sometimes I would put pressure on myself, but I don't feel like I gave myself unreasonable expectations. I would tell myself, 'You can do this, so try for it.''
Another goal she has is to collaborate with her 15-year-old sister, Violet. Both sisters have won Miss Greater Hooksett Teen competitions.
'My sister is an incredibly talented vocalist, and she wants to be a pop star. I would love to be the Finneas to her Billie Eilish. He helps her write her songs, he does her audio production, all kinds of stuff like that,' she said.
'I like to write songs. I also really enjoy recording and producing and mixing as well. So, the technological aspect of that is so fun for me. I would love to help Violet with those things.'
Billy Sylvester
Manchester Memorial High School
Billy Sylvester, 18, is heading to Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., to study sport management.
Billy Sylvester, Manchester Memorial High School Class of 2025
Billy Sylvester is an 18-year-old graduating senior from Manchester Memorial High.
Some people love sports — and then there's Sylvester, who has built friendships and stokes school spirit at just about every turn at Memorial. Now, he'd like to make a career of it.
'I love everything about sports,' he said. 'That's why I'm going to Endicott for sports management. I realized I can do what I love there. I love watching sports. I love playing sports, whether it's on a team or with friends.'
Sylvester played soccer, basketball and golf for the Crusaders; was on the student-athlete leadership team; and volunteered for sporting events at school.
He's basically Mr. Crusader.
He won the top fan award for the school and teachers awarded him with the George Demos Award for being a kind student who supports classmates and stands up to bullying.
Sylvester was also a high-honors student and had a GPA of around 3.5.
But with all the fun of sports and hard work of academics, high school had a low moment for him when his grandfather died in the winter of his junior year.
Billy Sylvester, Manchester Memorial High School Class of 2025
Billy Sylvester is an 18-year-old graduating senior from Manchester Memorial High.
'I stepped out of school for about a week. When I came back, my teachers were very welcoming about it. They were there to comfort me and let me take the time to do my work and get caught up. It was a tough time. My mind was everywhere, but I had teachers, friends, family all there for me. So, that helped a lot.'
His mother, Susan, said her father's death had a profound effect on Billy, who 'has a heart of gold.'
'It was more than just losing a grandfather in his life. They were very close,' she said. 'He lived in New London, but he would come to the events. He always loved to be there. He tried to be as present as he could.'
Billy Sylvester's grandfather called him 'Big Guy,' and marveled at not just his stature, but his big smile and big heart. His parents said people gravitate toward his infectious enthusiasm and how he wears his heart on his sleeve.
'He has always stayed true to himself and he's always tried to do the right thing,' Susan Sylvester said.
Josselyn Ascencio
Manchester School of Technology
Josselyn Ascencio, 18, is heading to Roger Williams University in Rhode Island to study architecture.
Josselyn Ascencio, Manchester School of Technology Class of 2025
Josselyn Ascencio is an 18-year-old senior from the Manchester School of Technology.
Ascencio was in the top 10% of her graduating class academically, was the class historian, part of the yearbook club, a tutor, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also played volleyball for three years at Manchester West (MST doesn't have its own interscholastic sports teams).
The oldest of three kids, Ascencio is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish, and she's learning French. She has one brother who is a year younger and then a 5-year-old little brother, whom she helps take care of when her mother works the second shift.
She participated in Breakthrough Manchester, a program that starts in middle school and helps kids from traditionally underserved communities on their path to college.
'I've been a Breakthrough student for seven years now, going into the college-bound program as well, and then I returned this school year to be a breakthrough teacher intern for middle school students. So I volunteered my time there up until April,' she said.
Josselyn Ascencio, Manchester School of Technology Class of 2025
Josselyn Ascencio is an 18-year-old senior from the Manchester School of Technology.
Through her church youth group, Ascencio also volunteered to bring food to homeless people in the city. She also served as a student representative on the Manchester school board for two years.
Ascencio said MST not only gave her a great opportunity to develop the skills she needed to pursue her dream of becoming an architect, but the teachers were supportive and created an environment of trust.
She singled out one teacher in particular: Jessica Weiss, who was her advisory and literature teacher and National Honor Society adviser. 'Whenever I have any concerns, questions, literally about anything even if it's just life, I go to her,' Ascencio said. 'She's kind of like a mom at the school.'
At MST, she learned how to use coumputer-assisted design software and a three-dimensional printer for design. She's excited about an internship this summer when she can continue to learn to use Revit, a design software she got a head start on already during independent study time at school. She wanted to hit the ground running on her quest for a career she's yearned for since the fourth grade.
'I learned that we need more hospital clinics, and I could design spaces like that, or community centers, maybe even schools, or making sustainable places. So I guess that's my end goal, making more sustainable commercial spaces. Something that can inspire people, when they look at it, they're like, 'Wow.''
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All four graduates said they are gracious and humbled by the support they received along the way.
More than 700 students will get their diplomas today at SNHU Arena. Every one of them has a story.
As the ceremonies conclude, they'll look to their right, grab the tassels atop their caps and move them to the left.
And commence.
dpierce@unionleader.com
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