Saturday, June 3, 2006

WARREN -- In her valedictory speech, Tanya Marie DaRosa told fellow graduates at Our Lady of Fatima High School that life is too short for regrets.

"You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take, so make every opportunity worthwhile," she said.

DaRosa, who earned a 4.23 grade-point average and plans to attend Bryant University in Smithfield, joined 26 seniors who graduated from the Catholic school last night.

Salutatorian Andrew S. Deschenes, who earned a 4.14 average, will attend Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H., with a scholarship from the Bristol Lions Club.

In his graduation address, Deschenes reflected on the students' first days at Fatima.

"Just over four short years ago, many of us first walked through these doors. We were strangers in a strange place, trying to find a niche in the ever-changing environment of high school," he said.

Sister Mary Margaret Souza, the school principal, said her seniors have done just that. In their years at Fatima, she said the students have grown from shy, introverted teenagers into confident adults active in their school and the larger community.

"Just to see that maturation process take place . . . makes my job worthwhile," she said.

Fatima's Class of 2006 is one of high achievers. Farrell Jean-Gilles, a point guard, scored more than 1,500 points in his high school career and became the scoring leader for basketball, and in April the class donated 1,515 food items, more than any other class, for this year's record-breaking food drive.

"As far as I'm concerned, they've all excelled," Sister Souza said.

Students and faculty collected a total of 3,447 food items, which were arranged to spell out, "Fatima ending hunger" on the gymnasium floor. The items were donated to the Bristol Good Neighbors Food Pantry.

Comparing her fellow graduates to "fruit that bears the sweet taste of success," Victoria J. Wehjla, class president, credited a strong network of support for their accomplishments.