After an evening of ice cream, frisbee and fun, the sun has set on the Class of 2025’s final day as high schoolers. 

The soon-to-be graduates celebrated their accomplishments together at Apponagansett Park Saturday, May 31 — just before their commencement ceremony.

For many of the students who grew up in Dartmouth their whole lives, the transition into the real world has certainly been bittersweet.

Brooke Adam said, “Everything is so much bigger now.”

She noted that sometimes she’ll drive around and reminisce, even getting a bit teary-eyed just talking about it. 

“It makes me so thankful that I was able to grow up in a place that made me so full of love and I love it so much,” Adam added.

Recalling her decision to switch sports this past spring season, she said she was grateful for her decision to join spring track, gaining confidence, “insane memories” and life-long friends.

For Sophie Wentworth, the last six to seven months of school have been a whirlwind of experiences that have brought her closer with a lot of people she never thought she would. 

Also having grown up in Dartmouth, she imagines a confusing future when she heads off to Vermont in the fall — unsure of how to even make it to the grocery store without a map.

Moving to town about a year ago, Mason Igisomar said athletics was vital to helping him assimilate to the school. The same was said for Italian foreign exchange student, Elizabeth Figoni. 

Looking to head back to her home country in about two weeks, Figoni said Dartmouth’s number of extra curricular opportunities helped contribute to the community-feel of the school, especially the spring track team.

“I just really liked the vibes and everyone was just so friendly,” she said. “It just felt so good.”

Leaving is more bitter than sweet, she said. “I came here and I started from nothing and then I learned how to actually make friends and I met such amazing people.”

Ariana Parke came to Dartmouth her freshman year and noted it was “a lot more accepting” than her previous school. “Coming here was a nice change of pace. I made a lot of friends and I didn’t really feel like I was left out.”

One of those friends being Percy Nadeau, who has called Dartmouth home forever. 

Nadeau said looking back over the last four years,  baking a cake for the cast of “Grease” — the spring musical last year — stands out. 

“There’s definitely a sense of community and I’ve made a lot of friends,” Nadeau added.