Firstly, to the people of South Portland, thank you. As a member of the graduating class of 2009, I sincerely appreciate and understand what your tax dollars have done for me during the 13 years I have been in the South Portland school system. However, I write this letter in response to last week’s letter to the editor entitled, “Beach ball vigilance ‘excessive.’” Although it is tradition, hitting beach balls and making loud noises during the entire graduation ceremony is not simply a “small way” for the seniors to celebrate.

Rather, it is, at times, distracting and discouraging. As one of the speakers addressing the thousands of people at graduation, I not only had to compete against my own nerves, but I also had to speak over the loud voices of some classmates, and continue on speaking while many eyes were fixated on beach balls. Despite my feeling of worthlessness as a speaker, a sentiment shared by at least two of the other speakers, let me be clear that I like very much the 190 other people who made up the SPHS class of 2009.  

Maybe beach balls and screaming do have a place at graduation. Perhaps the students can enjoy themselves while the names of the graduates are being read. But, before assuming that a teacher is simply trying to stop the seniors from having any fun, please remember the hours and effort speakers put forth in crafting their addresses, and the courage it took for them to deliver their speeches to a class that, well, continued to deflate the speaker’s confidence with every beach ball it inflated.

Jake Viola

South Portland