Where is the class of 2014?

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Wondering where your friends and classmates from the class of 2014 are headed? Check out our interactive map to see graduates all over the globe.

Barra Peak

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you go to?

Tisbury Elementary School.

Have you always lived on Martha’s Vineyard?

Yes.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school?

Force yourself to go outside your comfort zone — just a little bit — and try new things. Really make an effort to meet new people.

What are you most excited about right now?

Living in a city where there’s all kinds of things going on all the time.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

The classes. MVRHS has some awesome teachers, which means there are lots of really, interesting, engaging classes in all the disciplines. I learned a ton!

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

I’m starting at Harvard College this fall.

Did you have a mentor, teacher, or family member that helped you in a large way during high school?

My mom was extremely helpful and influential during high school. Not only did she provide support when I was struggling or frustrated, she taught me most of what I know about writing. She taught me how to edit. Having that at home made high school much easier.

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories from high school or even elementary school that you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?

Unfortunately not. I was usually the quiet kid observing from the sidelines. Nothing exceptionally funny or embarrassing happened to me.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

Working at Camp Jabberwocky. I got roped in to be a counselor at the last minute (totally unplanned, at least by me) and it ended up being a great experience. I met a lot of really cool people.

If you are leaving, what will you miss most?

The water! And trees, and wind. Living in a city, I won’t have access to any of them.

Avery Lazes

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you go to?

Marthas Vineyard Public Charter School.

Have you always lived on MV?

I moved from Long Island New York when I was 4.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school?

Focus on your academic classes but find electives that you enjoy so you can really enjoy going to school.

What are you most excited about right now?

I am currently most excited about two things. I’m a volunteering for my first time at camp jabberwocky and am having an incredible experience and I am also a month away from starting my first year at berklee college of music in Boston which I am also extremely excited about.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

Without a doubt my favorite times in high school were my classes in the culinary arts department as well as the music department.

Did you have a mentor, teacher or family member that helped you in a large way during high school?

Lots of people helped me in high school but I’d say that the people that helped me the most while actually in school were Jack O’Malley (culinary arts teacher) and Mike Tinus (music teacher).

Charlotte Benjamin

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you go to?

I went to the Edgartown school until fourth grade and then moved to West Tisbury.

Have you always lived on MV?

Yes.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school? (What tips would you give underclassmen?)

Popularity seemed so important my freshman year. I wish I hadn’t cared so much about what everyone else thought, I think it held me back socially. Also if you’re going to be late to school in the morning, you might as well go out to breakfast.

What are you most excited about right now?

Moving to New York City to go to college next month!

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

I had the opportunity to do a senior project in the last semester of my senior year. I wrote and recorded my own album and uploaded it to bandcamp and soundcloud. The senior project program at the high school gives you so much freedom to be creative and do something you love, I was surprised at how few students took advantage of it.

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

Marymount Manhattan College! Wooh!

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories from high school or even elementary school that you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?

The Powderpuff games at the high school are usually pretty heavily attended. I remember going my freshman year and accidentally tripping over an upperclassman’s foot in the stands, stumbling, trying to catch my balance for about 30 feet and finally falling flat on my face. The worst part was everyone in the stands had a perfect view of the incident and there was a chorus of sympathetic ‘ooh’s’ all in perfect unison as soon as I hit the ground.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

I’ve been playing so much music this summer with Elijah Berlow and Zoe Zeeman. We’ve been doing gigs at bars and restaurants, even some private parties. It’s crazy to me that there are people that will give you money to do something you love with your friends.

Shane Metters

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you attend?

I went to the Tisbury School from kindergarten all the way to high school.

Have you always lived on the Vineyard?

I moved down to the Vineyard after spending the first few months of my life in my grandmother’s apartment in Bar Harbor Maine.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school? (What tips would you give underclassmen?)

For advice, I would tell underclassmen to take in as much knowledge as they can while they’re still young and don’t be afraid to try something you may think could be a blast.

What are you most excited about right now?

At this very minute I’m most excited about finally getting this barge into Vineyard Haven after a long ride from Cuttyhunk. I’m also extremely happy to be moving on in my next chapter to see what life has to offer.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

What I enjoyed most from high school was being around such a great group of kids who are all into something completely different from one another and to know that they supported each other even if they barely knew them.

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

For the future, in 2 weeks I’m headed to massachusetts maritime academy located right in Bourne to continue an education for my passion for the water.

Did you have a mentor, teacher or family member that helped you in a large way during high school?

John Packer has been a mentor to me since I was about 10 years old. He taught me how to operate heavy machinery and to handle barges in all types of situations.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

The highlight of my summer has been being around such great people who care for you in every which way. I have to say I’ll miss a lot of the faces I’m used to seeing everyday but am excited to meet new ones down the road.

Sam Permar

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you attend?

I went to the West Tisbury School from kindergarten until 5th grade, and the Oak Bluffs School for middle school.

Have you always lived on the Vineyard?

I’ve lived on the island since I was one year old- I was born in West Chester, PA, but my family moved here seventeen years ago.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school?

I would tell myself four years ago not to try so hard to fit within a certain group of people- I think that the happiest people are those who are open to everyone. It took me a couple of years in high school to figure that out.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

I enjoyed getting closer with different people every year due to the shifting classes and schedules each year. Every year, I met new people that I am still very close with. I might not have even met them if I didn’t encounter them in those classes or activities.

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

This fall, I’ll attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where I’ll be studying acting in the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, a studio that is based on Strasberg’s acting techniques. I’m incredibly excited to be going to Tisch- it’s been my dream since I knew what college was. My schedule includes acting training three days a week on a 9-5 schedule and academic classes on the remaining two days, and that is exactly what I want as a college student throughout the next four years. I’m also so thrilled to be living right in New York City, immersed in city life.

What tips would you give underclassmen?

My advice for underclassmen is that when thinking about colleges, it’s not just about how good you look on paper and what your GPA is- it’s also about who you are as a person and what you’ve experienced to get you to where you are now.

Keilla Geddis

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

Which elementary school did you attend?

I went to the Charter School.

Have you always lived on the Vineyard?

Yes, I have always lived on MV.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school?

The best advice I could give would be to take your time. Its always exciting to rush into being in the next year above. But then high school flies by fast and you end up missing it. And also be yourself, you’ll make your own friends without trying to act like someone else just ‘cause you look up to them. Enjoy your friends, and take advantage of the education you’re given. Because you’ll look back on it, and when you do you’ll want to appreciate it.

What are you most excited about right now?

Right now I’m most excited to start beauty school. I want to learn everything.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

While I was in high school I really enjoyed being with my friends the most. I liked study halls, art class, and personal training.

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

My future plans right now are to get through beauty school, go to college in California. Possibly open up salon after a couple years. And major in interior decor.

Did you have a mentor, teacher or family member that helped you in a large way during high school?

I had a teacher,  Mrs. Norton. She helped me tremendously. And I could never thank her enough.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

The highlight of my summer so far I would say is just working and making money and modeling.

What will you miss most about Martha’s Vineyard?

What I will miss most when I leave is the beautiful summer setting. I love my island, it’s my home.

Lily Lubin

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you go to?

I went to the Charter School from 4th grade on. Before that, I moved around schools in Boston and Newton.

Have you always lived on MV?

No, I lived here until I was 5, then I moved to Boston for 3 years. I came back the summer before my 4th grade year.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school? (What tips would you give underclassmen?)

I would tell myself to try different things, classes, sports, musicals, clubs. I definitely did sports and the musicals freshman year but clubs are fun and you get to find out what you like. Also talk to your teachers, reach out. It doesn’t matter if people think it’s weird you’re friends with a teacher, the teachers of MVRHS have had wonderful amazing lives, and it would be great to hear stories and learn from them outside of class.

What are you most excited about right now?

I’m really excited to go off to college in 2 weeks. It’s a big step and I’m moving (back) to Boston. After 9 years on the Vineyard, the change is going to be nice, but it’s still close to home.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

I really loved talking to the teachers during breaks or before classes, you really got to know a lot about them and they’ve done lots of cool things. I think I spent more time this last year in Ms. Kurtz’s room than the cafeteria.

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

I’m going to Emerson College this fall to study Film. I want to be a director in the movie business. It’s a big dream but film is my passion and college is meant for you to learn what you love.

Did you have a mentor, teacher, or family member that helped you in a large way during high school?

I had a couple of teachers that really helped. Mr. Sawyer actually helped me discover my love for film and we could always chat about movies. Mr. Wilson was also very important, he helped me with assignments even after I moved up from his class. And Ms. Kurtz, I started Freshman year with her by my side as an Oompa- Loompa and we just became friends.( Those were the three people I had write my recommendation letter, you don’t have to say all three)

Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories from high school or even elementary school that you wouldn’t mind sharing with us?

Well I was awkward all throughout high school, so I have lots of stories. A favorite was when I was an Oompa Loompa in the Willy Wonka musical freshman year. During the teaser performance I had to do a cartwheel in front of the whole school and my wig fell off. There was silence and then I heard somebody yell “HER WIG FELL OFF.” Everyone started laughing, and I laughed too.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

I went to Disney World with my best friend Ina Thigith as a celebration for graduating. It was a great week and I love Disney so much.

If you are leaving, what will you miss most? Also, where is your favorite place to be on the island?

I’ll miss my teachers and mentors, my cat, my wonderfully vast movie collection (sadly I cannot bring them all with me.) And of course my family. I don’t have one favorite place on the island, but I love the outdoor tables at Mocha Motts. It’s always fun to get a Peach Iced Tea (ask for iced tea with peach syrup) and chat with a friend.

Jesse Herman

Graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School class of 2014

What elementary school did you go to?

I went to Edgartown Elementary School

Have you always lived on MV?

My mother moved to Martha’s Vineyard from Brooklyn, NY when I was a baby because she thought I would have a better life here.

What advice would you give yourself four years ago, when you were first entering high school? (What tips would you give underclassmen?)

I would just tell them that anything that you do in high school will be dwarfed by your accomplishments as an adult or as a contributing member of society. Don’t take everything too seriously. There was a lot of ridiculous drama that in the end was meaningless and stupid. I hate to say it but by the time its all over is when you really figure everything out.  Work hard and get good grades, and remember its just high school.

What are you most excited about right now?

I am excited to move into my dorm and start college.

What did you enjoy most during your time in high school?

I enjoyed the friends I made and a lot of the teachers I had. There are some fantastic teachers at M.V.R.H.S

What are your plans for the future? (For the fall: college, internship, job, travel, program, etc.)

I am going to go to college at S.U.N.Y Albany in the fall.

What has been a highlight of your summer so far?

The highlight of my summer was seeing Derek Jeter play one last time at Yankee Stadium

If you are leaving, what will you miss most?

It will be hard to miss the island because it is part of what I am. I have lived in Edgartown for over 15 years. I carry that with me everywhere I go and I will never forget the places I used to hang out as a kid.