The Pittsford Sutherland High School senior class gathered outside the school for its annual bonfire in September.
All of the students joined hands and played the childhood camp game of “quack-a-dilly-oma.”
For seniors Julia Johnston and Daniel Underberg, it was their favorite moment of their final high school year.
“It was an amazing thing to see the whole class together,” Julia said. “A really magical moment that really solidified us as the class of 2010.”
The pair will be speaking at the graduation Saturday afternoon.
Daniel was selected to speak by his fellow honor graduates. He will study psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., in the fall. He hopes to become a surgeon.
Daniel became interested in the medical field after working with children with autism while doing an internship at the University of Rochester Medical Center and while volunteering at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Brighton.
“(Those experiences) got me really interested in the brain and medicine in general,” he said.
Alla Shustorovich had Daniel in her class for three years and described him as an outstanding student, a caring human being and a deep thinker.
“Daniel’s classmates love and respect him,” she said. “Everyone appreciates his great sense of humor and positive attitude. He is also very patient and willing to help.”
In school, Daniel tutored younger students, and was a Link Leader and a Peer Helper. He also ran cross county and played trumpet in the school wind ensemble, jazz ensemble and pit orchestra.
“I feel like I’ve definitely grown a lot more comfortable in my own skin and I can express myself more openly,” he said.
Julia is a speaker at graduation because she is the senior class president.
“I’m really honored to be the one that gets to speak to my whole class,” she said. “It’ll be great to give some parting wishes.”
In the fall, Julia will attend SUNY Purchase to study acting. She is interested in both film and theater.
Over her time at Sutherland, Julia has been very active in all things drama at the school. She was president of the Drama Club senior year; was co-founder and director of the Glee Club; and took part in numerous choir groups, school musicals and plays.
Music teacher Karie Templeton said Julia is one of the most versatile actresses she’s ever worked with.
“She’s very multi-talented, a wonderful actress and she has a beautiful singing voice,” Templeton said. “She has great leadership qualities, and she’s very creative.”
Julia feels she has grown as a person over the past four years.
“I’ve become a leader, and I’ve changed in a way that I don’t try to act in a way anyone else will expect,” she said. “I feel like I’ve impacted my class as a whole, knowing as long as other people are true to themselves, they can be true to themselves as well.”
