Second semester of senior year marks the culmination of four years of hard work and the final step between childhood and adulthood. It is a time of celebration of friendships, academics, clubs and the future. The class of 2016 had eleven students graduate early. For three of these early graduates, second semester has meant beginning their careers and pursuing passions in various internships, jobs and traveling. After their final exams this past winter, Brittany Wittes, Mackenzie Rappaport and Claude Cimeus closed their textbooks and replaced them with a fashion magazine, ballet shoes and a passport. There are very various reasons why each of them chose to graduate early, and not having homework every night is just the beginning.

Brittany Wittes

During her time at DHS, Brittany Wittes could always be found dancing in the DHS auditorium or at football games. Her decision to graduate early was inspired by this passion that she is excited to continue long after the curtains close on her high school career.

“It’s really hard to explain why I love dancing so much. It’s just a way for me to escape. When I dance I’m happy and it’s as if all my problems are gone. My goal is to study dance therapy. I want to use dance techniques as exercises to assist people going through physical therapy,” Wittes said.

In addition to pursuing a career in the arts, Wittes has been working at Josh’s in Deerfield Square this past semester to save money for Columbia College in Chicago where she will attend in the fall. While studying at Columbia College, Wittes is excited to focus on physical therapy, with a specific focus in dance therapy, over the next four years.

“I am excited to start the next chapter in my life. High school and my semester off have helped me learn and understand who I am and what my goals for the future are. For example, working everyday and meeting new people has already helped me learn how much I enjoy working with people,” Wittes said.

Wittes explains that she initially made the decision to graduate early during the fall of her Junior year, knowing that this is what she wanted. Although the decision was a simple one initially, Wittes became unsure when second semester grew nearer. Despite her uncertainty, Wittes’smother was extremely supportive of the decision and allowed her daughter to make her own decision without attempting to sway her.

“It was difficult to leave DHS because I became so comfortable there. Being at a school for seven hours a day, five days a week for four years straight means that you’re bound to become attached,” Wittes said.

The factor that made it most difficult for Wittes to graduate early were teachers that she met and worked with throughout her four years at DHS. She expresses great respect and admiration for Mr. Kramer and Mr. Rigler, both of whom she has studied with for almost two years in a row. She appreciates their ability to understand who she is and help her translate that into her classwork and college essays. She is particularly thankful for the past four years she has spent dancing with Mrs. Campbell.
“She is someone who I have always looked up to and always wants the best for all of her students. No matter what, she believes in all of us, even when we don’t and that means a lot,” Wittes said.

In addition to her teachers, many of Wittes’s most cherished memories from DHS has come from her time spent with friends. Currently, what she has missed most about being at school is waking up every Monday morning like she did during her Junior to catch up with her friends.

“My friends and I would always get to school at 7:15 on Mondays to catch up on our weekends and hang out. It was the only reason I got up in the morning,” Wittes said.

Looking back on her high school career Wittes wishes to erase all the embarrassing moments that she experienced at DHS. She remembers walking into the wrong classes on the first day of school, tripping in the halls and saying something extremely loudly when it was only meant for her friend’s ears as some of her most embarrassing memories. Despite all of this, she wishes that she could go back and experience all one more time, the heartwarming and the embarrassing.

“Just like every high school student I couldn’t wait to get out, but now that I am, all I want to do is to go back. I miss having the opportunity to learn everyday, see my friends,and keep the pressures of the real world at bay. For me high school was a rollercoaster, as I’m sure everyone’s is, I’ve had heartbreaks, drama and achievements. High school was hard, but it was also the four best years of my life,” Wittes said.

Mackenzie Rappaport

After completing her final exams this past December, Mackenzie Rappaport shifted her focus from the classroom to her future. During her semester away from DHS, Rappaport has spent six days a week working at the clothing store Runway. Her passion for fashion merchandising is what pushed her to want to graduate early, explaining that the experience she gains while working in retail is invaluable.

“I hope my education and work experience will not only teach me all the different aspects of fashion, but also teach me about the business world. I want to be able to use everything I learn to create something I’m passionate about while inspiring others,” Rappaport said.

Rappaport had great difficulty when making this decision. She expressed her initial fear of entering the real world and living without seven hours of her day at school. Ultimately, Rappaport states that she made her final decision based on a gut instinct and her parents’ approval. She explained that in her mind she knew that graduating early was going to be “the best thing” for her and her future plans.

“I’d love to work for a magazine similar to Vogue or Glamour, but we will see what happens. I want to be creative and I think once I go through school, I will learn exactly what I want to do within the fashion industry,” Rappaport said.
Looking back on her time at DHS, Rappaport cherishes the opportunities and experiences she has had. Among her favorite memories is when she conquered the ropes course in gym, overcoming her long standing fear of heights. Beyond her gym class and fond memories with Mr. Zima, Rappaport added that she has deeply missed Mr. Chung and Mrs. Wahrenbrock during her time away.

“I received such great help and support from [my teachers] that I feel so grateful for. Mr. Zima helped me conquer the climbing wall and the high ropes course. Zima watched me the whole time and we took baby steps together so I wouldn’t be so scared. Zima stood there the whole time to make me feel better, and that memory with him has meant a lot to me,” Rappaport said.
Beyond the education she received, Rappaport explains that her experiences both inside and outside of the classroom have allowed her to develop a greater sense of self. She shares that she learned a lot from her friends and the memories she share with them.

“I learned that my friends are my family and I created such amazing relationships with people that I want in my life forever. They taught me how to be happy with life and never give up on what I want,” Rappaport said.
Next year, Rappaport will apply the skills she has learned during her semester off at Kent State University, where she will be pursuing her dream of opening up a store in Manhattan one day.

“High school has allowed me to really become an adult. I matured so much throughout my time at DHS and I learned to chase my dreams. I know I can do anything if I just put in the effort,” Rappaport said.

Claude Cimeus

After moving to the United States from Haiti six years ago, Claude Cimeus has been spending his semester off working on a technology startup and giving back to his home country through mission trips.

“I’ll never have six months free ever in my life again so I’ve been using it to do everything I want to try,” Cimeus said.

His decision to graduate early came from a deep need to pursue that which he was most passionate about. Cimeus was ready to utilize his skills by applying them in the field rather than sitting in a classroom dreaming about the future.

“I really wanna make awesome things that will leave a dent in the universe. Being stuck in a classroom trying to find an ‘x’ on a triangle wasn’t cutting it for me. Most of us are lucky to get 80 years on this planet, I really want to a leave a mark. The earlier the better,” Cimeus said.

With his internships and personal business at the forefront of his goals for the future, graduating early was a simple decision for Cimeus. He explains that his parents have been extremely supportive and understand his reasoning for doing so. They were comfortable as long as Cimeus received his high school diploma.

“My parents honestly just wanted me to graduate, so regardless if it was in May or January it didn’t really matter. It certainly mean a lot that they supported it. It shows me that they truly want what’s best for me,” Cimeus said.

Next year, Cimeus is excited to attend Harper College in Illinois where he will be studying computer science and business. Graduating early was something that Cimeus knew he wanted, but even so, he feels a sense of nostalgia when thinking about Tim directing traffic every morning and the passionate teachers at DHS whose first priority is the success of their students.

“Though I could not care less about chemistry, Mr. O’Malley taught the class so well that you actually wanted to be there, he not only helps you become a better student but a lot of times a better person. I had some awesome teachers, that’s honestly one of the reasons why I had a great time at DHS,” Cimeus said.