Written by Marie Kane |

Photos by Jake Bzowski & former PawPrint staff

The Class of 2019 is now the senior class, but, also, it is the only class left to have experienced the old Morgan. During our freshman year, the seniors back then (Class of 2016), the last graduating class of the old Morgan, had a lot of influence with the school. After high school, however, these graduates obviously had new adventures, and they also have some advice for the current seniors.

Jake Bzowski attends Arizona State University. Jake said, “I hated it at first and wanted to go home, but as time went by, I started to understand how good it was for me.” He’s studying film and media production and has decided to start his own photo and video business right after high school. He records concerts and tours with celebrities.

He even has some celebrities as clients. Jake said that “the new school is pretty, but the old school had character.” He misses the staff from Morgan. He explained how the faculty at Morgan is truly special and that he still speaks with many of them on occasion. He said, “Understand that not only are you guys lucky for being educated in Connecticut, but the faculty at Morgan is one of a kind. They’re all there to help you succeed and that’s what they did to me.”

Jake also advises the Class of 2019 to push themselves. Jake said, “We live in such a small town which sometimes feels closed off. Challenge yourself with where you go to school, challenge yourself by forcing yourself to meet new people and experience new places.” He recommends stepping out of your comfort zone: “Leave Connecticut and make new friends and new connections and your world will open up beyond what you could think.”

Jake explained that some of his friends from high school never wanted to leave their comfort zone. He said, “Even if they left Clinton, they never mentally commit to being away from home, and now they’re back and still in Clinton, doing what they did when it was our time to graduate. Be better and be different. Your friends will still be here when you come home to visit but feeling like you’ve never pushed yourself will stay with you until it’s too late and too far gone.” Speaking of the time between his graduation over three years ago and now, Jake said that “Like with anything, if you stay busy, then it flies by.”

Sami Ashton smiling by the Yearbook club.

Another graduate from the Class of 2016, Sami Ashton also has had a lot going on for her in the past three years. She is a junior at Connecticut College and is double majoring in biology and economics while minoring in Environmental Studies. She is on the college’s basketball team as well as in the Office of Sustainability and a student intern in the Office of Advancement. This deals with alumni relations.

Sami is very close to entering what is known as “the real world” which is the main reason why her life has changed since graduating. She said, “The time goes by faster than ever after graduation. This summer I will be living on my own in Boston and working an internship, so I have really grown up and become more independent since graduating.”

During her time at our old Morgan School, she enjoyed chemistry teacher Karen Kaestle’s class and loved to chat with her. Sami misses attending sports games and talking to everyone while passing in the hallways. “The Old Morgan had so much charisma. Even though it was super old and needed upgrades, I did not mind. I grew up in that building and wish I could still visit and walk through it at times. I will be super upset when I come home, and it is all gone.”

Sami’s advice to this year’s senior class is to stay calm about the future. “I remember being super nervous about what career I wanted to pursue and what I wanted to major in, but everything will fall into place how it is supposed to.”

There are many memories of the Class of 2016 from everyone who knew any of them. They had tons of school spirit. This class was the last graduating class of the old school and was filled with many amazing people.