With a contagious smile, a sparkly shawl draped over her shoulders, and Santa socks peeking out from beneath her skirt, postgraduate Robin Snow graduated from the Community Access Program (CAP) on Dec.19.
The ceremony began with a speech from Principal Sean Bevan, honoring Snow and the dozens of friends and family gathered to celebrate her achievement. A slideshow filled with pictures of Snow throughout the years conveyed her bubbly personality and passion for fashion. Speech Language Pathologist Lisa Pagan recognized how Snow’s outfits demonstrate her self-assurance.
“She does not care what season it is, she’ll wear a Santa jacket to the beach in July and her Halloween socks all year round,” Pagan said. “She is just so confident and cool and she always looks amazing.”
Pagan noticed Snow’s development throughout her time in CAP.
“She’s suddenly initiating conversation with her peers,” Pagan said. “She’s one of the girls; they sit at the table and talk about what they’re gonna wear to the dance and what they’re gonna buy when shopping. She’s independently asking her friends what they’re doing over the weekend, which is really big growth for her.”
Snow’s father, Rob Snow, witnessed this transition firsthand.
“[You can see] just how genuinely happy she’s been,” Rob Snow said.
Rob Snow believes that his daughter’s diverse passions and interests will help her find a fulfilling job.
“I’m hoping that she can find a career she really enjoys,” Rob Snow said. “She knows so much about cars and shopping and things like that; she always talks about the jobs that she wants. She wants to be a mechanic, she wants to work in retail and I hope eventually she’ll get the skills she needs to find something that she loves doing.”
Snow will take part in a program where she will continue interacting with the community while developing valuable vocational skills. Special education teacher Caitlyn Hynes is excited for Snow’s opportunities in the future.
“I hope she continues to learn and grow, and I hope she meets a new group of peers that she enjoys,” Hynes said. “I hope she gets to continue doing the fun things she likes.”
Snow’s absence will be missed by students and staff alike.
“She was always so happy,” Hynes said. “She loved coming to school and she loved going into the community. It’s just going to feel very weird without her coming.”
Junior Libby Caffrey, Snow’s buddy in the Best Buddies Program, tearfully reflected on the time the two shared.
“I’ve seen her really come into herself and be more out there and really enjoying it,” Caffrey said. “It’s been really amazing just to see her grow.”
Postgraduate Nora Shaikh, Snow’s friend since middle school, summed up the general sentiment around Snow.
“She’s my best friend,” Shaikh said. “I love her enthusiasm and her energy; I like everything about her.”
