'12 Graduates Enter World of New Technology

Now that the dust has settled from graduation, the time to reflect has passed and students will begin to focus their collective eyesight on the future.

Whether that future includes packing bags for a fall semester in college, joining the armed forces or entering the job market, there is at least one constant among all members of the class of 2012—change in technology.

And if the last four years these students spent in high school are any indication, Harrison senior class president Christie Nannariello said the current jump in technological advances won't be slowing any time soon.

"The amount of societal changes we have lived through in just these last four years is astounding," Nannariello noted as she addressed her class Friday.

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If the class of 2012 hopes to continue its collective success in the work force or in college, young men and women will rely on a skill many have mastered outside of the classroom. Who would have thought 10 years ago how many jobs have been created by the use of Twitter? Who would have guessed how much of our personal information would be available on Facebook?

Probably not many.

So although students may not know what changes are to come, being flexible and keeping up with social networking and new technology will be critical for graduates this year, and every other year moving forward.

Nannariello urged her classmates to keep up with the ever-changing landscape, no matter where they are going.

"We are bound to be the most connected, but also most thoroughly documented generation to date," said Nannariello. "The long-term affects of all of this openness can not be predicted yet, but we are now writing the chapters for how future generations will interact."

The class of 2012 earned success in a variety of areas during its time in Harrison. There was achievement in the classroom, athletic fields and academic clubs.

But graduates these days have also armed themselves with another set of skills, the time spent socializing online and learning the intricacies of computer systems will now help students apply their knowledge moving forward.

Nannariello urged her classmates to make the most of the opportunity in front of them. As students move into the next phases of their lives, the senior offered a bit of modern advice:

"Make your life worth re-tweeting," she said.