Seniors’ Last Summer

Milford High School

SENIORS’ THOUGHTS ON LEAVING THEIR HOMETOWN

BY ANNABEL WARDMAN & MAYA ROSADO

Summer is a very special time of year, the time of early mornings and late nights, ice cream on a sunny day, and endless beach days. Summer, however, is also a time for new beginnings. As the Class of 2023 is preparing for the next chapter of their lives, for some that means leaving their hometown behind.

Boston, which I love to do with my friends. Living here has given me the opportunity to see what city life is like and I am truly grateful for that.”

Still, Wainman is thankful for the childhood that Milford provided her. “It’s special to grow up here for me because my mom also grew up here which I think brings me closer to her. Milford isn’t huge but it’s big enough to be able to meet a bunch of different kinds of people.”

Fourteen years after her arrival in Milford, Wainman is preparing to

Samantha “Sam” Mauro

has had her entire life to admire Milford. Having lived in the city all 17 years of her life, Mauro has grown to truly treasure her hometown. “It’s so special to live here,” she says. “I love the community and the waterside; it’s truly gorgeous and you will never run out of things to do.”

Come fall, Mauro will be leaving Milford to take a job as an au pair in Europe. While she is excited to cross continental lines, she is sad to be leaving the town she calls home. “I’ve grown up here, so it will always have my heart,” says Mauro. “My childhood here has been super special and I would never want to change that. I will always miss being five minutes from the beach and in such a safe and happy town.”

Hannah Wainman, a former senior at Foran High School, has lived in Milford since she was four. After moving with her family from Park City, Utah, Wainman came to know and love Milford for its small beach-town charm.

“Milford and Park City are like complete opposites,” says Wainman. “Milford is a beach town while Park City is directly in the mountains. Milford gives me the opportunity to go to cities like New York and move to Boston, and eventually Madrid, Spain, through the study abroad program at Suffolk University.

Logan Aronson, another Foran graduate of the class of 2023, will soon be saying goodbye to Connecticut and hello to sunny Florida. Aronson will be attending Rollins College and pursuing new passions. Still, she feels sad to be leaving Milford behind.

“I love living in Milford because of the beautiful beaches, small downtown area, and close-knit community. Everyone knows everyone here and it’s like a big family,” says Aronson. “I’m sad to be leaving, but I know I will be back in no time.”

Aronson has great aspirations for not only herself, but for Milford as well.

“I would love to give back to the town that gave me so much,” Aronson says. “When I come back, I want to help organizations like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. I would love to do anything to help make sure Milford is thriving.”

Madison Smith has called Milford home for her entire life. Born and raised in “The Small City with a Big Heart,” Smith considers Milford to be her “happy place.”

“I love living in Milford,” says Smith. “The downtown is so charming, the Green has so many cute restaurants to try. There’s this great sense of community and there are so many people willing to help you when you need it.”

Smith will be moving a vast 20 miles come fall to attend Sacred Heart University for nursing.

“My move may not be far, but I will still miss Milford so much,” says Smith. “When I graduate college, I want to work to help my city. I’ve volunteered with my church in the past, and I want to continue doing so to sustain Milford’s beauty.”

Jose Abreu, another Foran graduate of the class of 2023, has not lived in Milford as long as most. Abreu moved to Milford from the Dominican Republic when he was in 7th grade. He is now preparing to move to Fairfield, where he will study nursing at Sacred Heart University.

“I’ve lived in Milford for six years now and I love it. I love how you can just randomly go to the beach and have a fun time with your friends and drive or walk around downtown,” says Abreu.

Though he has spent less time in Milford than the rest of the class of 2023, Abreu has truly come to appreciate the beauties of Milford.

“It really is a great place to live,” he says. “Everyone knows each other, everyone is nice and welcoming; it’s the perfect family friendly town.

Matthew Hagerty, a senior at Jonathan Law High School, is fairly new to Milford. Moving from Florida in the 7th grade, he spent his early years there and his teenage years in this close knit community.

“I love living in Milford because it has amazing people and a variety of things to do; I think that moving from West Palm Beach, FL to Milford, CT is one of the best things that has happened to me during my life,” says Hagerty. “Going from such a big city to a smaller town, I have been able to create a lot of meaningful relationships with my peers, reach personal goals, and be there for others.”

Hagerty embraces his shoreline town, spending his summers out on his boat and working at the Marina’s gas dock. He will be attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he hopes to later join the Coast Guard.

“I have been amazed and thankful for the amount of care and effort that has been put into shaping the person I am today via friends, mentors, advisors, coaches, and teachers,” says Hagerty. “Living in Milford has made me want to come back after college because I want my kids to go through the same experiences that I’ve had, and because Milford is a great place to make connections and create beneficial relationships.”

Benjamin Rossi

, another Law member of the Class of 2023, will soon be heading off to Marist college in Poughkeepsie, NY. Rossi has lived in Milford his whole life and believes it was the perfect place to grow up.

“It is special to grow up in Milford because of the strong sense of community throughout the whole city,” says Rossi. “Growing up playing Little League I met different kids throughout all of Milford from all different backgrounds and some of them are still my best friends today.”

Rossi will be majoring in journalism and hopes to pursue a career in sports journalism. He credits his passion for writing and public speaking to the variety of classes and electives that his high school offered.

“I hope to come back to Milford after college because if I had grown up in another city, I may not have felt as comfortable and at home, which may have prevented me from discovering my path for the future,” he says. “It was the support I received from my peers and administrators that never made me scared to host the school news and try a variety of classes.”

The authors are Milford Living’s senior interns: Jonathan Law H.S. Graduate Maya Rosado Foran H.S. Graduate Annabel Wardman