Back in 2022, the current senior class walked through the doors of EHHS into a new environment, one completely different than the one they had known since 2019. Since then they’ve spent the past four years of their life meeting new people, learning new things, discovering themselves, and becoming completely different people than they were back in 2022.
Over the past four years, the class of 2026 seniors had several mentors who they were able to go to for more than just schoolwork. The most common mentor figure was Mr. Michael Iavarone, who sadly passed away late into the 2025-2026 school year. He will live on through the class of 2026 and be remembered for his kindness, guidance, compassion for his students, and for being a pillar in the high school careers of many. Alana Fries, a senior, shared, “[Mr. Iavarone] listened, first and foremost to anything, any problem you had. He had the best advice.” Another 2026 senior, Austin Riveri, also saw Mr. Iavarone as his mentor. Austin said, “I was able to go to him for more than just automotive stuff. I could go to him for, just straight up talking about sports, family, food, you know, basically anything. He was like a grandpa to me.”
As the seniors begin their final days at EHHS, some of them would want to go back and change a couple things. Maybe they wanted to sign up for a club or sport earlier, or not at all. Or maybe they wish they didn’t become friends with someone, or wish they did so sooner. Eric Colon Berrios, a senior at EHHS and drum major for the East Haven Co-op marching band told us, “I would get involved in marching band quicker. Because now since it’s my last year, I’m not going to do it again, kind of regretting not doing it.” Eric joined the marching band during his sophomore year. Since then, marching band has become an integral part of Eric’s high school career.
Other seniors had more personal wishes. Anthony Lucci, another graduating senior, and captain of the 2025-2026 boys soccer team, when asked what he would change or tell to his freshman self said, “I’d say to him to listen to a friend, when he told me to make sure he avoided somebody no matter what. And I didn’t do my job well enough.” Anthony explained, “After we got to meet this new person and know him better, we realized how much making a new friend can mean to them and us.”
The people the class of 2026 have met during their time at East Haven High School have been more than those faces in the hall. Josh Rivera, a graduating senior said, “All the people around me helped me stay out of bad situations and stay positive.”
Seniors only get to be in high school once, so it’s important they take something good away from it. Whether that be individual growth, memories they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives, or something more personal. Many seniors spoke about gaining confidence in themselves through leadership roles they earned. Others mentioned that they got to really live and get involved rather than just getting by.
So, to the class of 2026: As our final year at EHHS comes to a close and as we all prepare ourselves to put on that cap and gown and to walk across that stage into the next chapter of our lives, I’d like to thank each and every one of you. It’s been nothing short of an honor to work and grow alongside you, all 211 of you, may you all be successful in your goals and endeavors in the near future, may you find nothing but joy and happiness in your lives, and may the wings we’ve grown over these 4 long, and yet so short years take us into the stars and beyond, and may this journey lead us starward.
