The most prominent question that I’ve gotten in my life has been “Wait, you’re not from Dallastown?” Their wide eyed gaze stares back at me with their mouth agape; they would only get more flustered as I would respond back with “Yeah, I’m actually a Central student.”

I was born in 2006 into a family of four in the middle of Central York, Pennsylvania. However, I was born as a deaf child– which meant I had a starkly different upbringing than most.

While most children were outside playing or inside watching television, I spent a majority of my time in speech therapy, preparing for surgical procedures and replacing hearing aid batteries.

When I turned 5 years old, my parents were in a tough predicament of whether or not to place me in Central. They ended up deciding to place me into Dallastown as it had a better program geared towards Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.

Throughout my time in the various Dallastown schools, I became close with so many people in the program and remained in it for 12 years.

In the spring of 2024, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) classroom was informed that the program was going to be relocated to the neighboring district, Spring Grove. 

The Lincoln Intermediate Unit (LIU), who is in charge of the DHH classrooms across York, decided to consolidate all of their classrooms to Spring Grove as a way to relieve the interpreter shortage and save money.

Following the news, there was an inescapable silence and sense of dread in all of us in room 228 for the oncoming year that was filled with uncertainty. 

“We were losing everyone else that was like family and a safe space so it was a little rough at first but it’s ok now,” Holly Knovich, who is a DAHS interpreter.

However, myself and seniors Landon Carl and Avory Williams were extended the offer to stay due to us being juniors at the time. The three of us had been inseparable since sixth grade and we unanimously agreed to stay and end our senior year at Dallastown.

“I could’ve gone to Spring Grove which is my home district but I chose to stay because Dallastown is my community,” Carl said.

Despite the DHH moving, the three of us would not be alone; as we would have our interpreters, Knovich and Michelle Marcarelli along with us for the ride.

Even though this was our senior year, this would also be the interpreters last year at Dallastown after over 20 years of service. 

“Not every person enjoys having another adult in the classroom but the overwhelming majority of teachers have been gracious, helpful and kind and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. Even though I work for the LIU, I always considered this home,” Marcarelli said. 

When I began this article, my journalism teacher and mentor, Angela Gable, asked me a question “what does it mean to be a Wildcat as a Central student?”

Following her question, I spent a lot of time mulling this over and self admittedly overthinking it. Nobody had asked me a question quite like that before; however, I think I have the response. 

Being a Wildcat doesn’t just mean that you live in Dallastown Pennsylvania. To me, it is being one with your community and striving to be your absolute best even when it looks dismal.

Dallastown has granted me so many opportunities and a life that I would’ve never dreamed about. 

I made many friends whom I deeply cherish, I made numerous connections with teachers and interpreters that became role models for me, I got Microsoft certified, I went overseas to France, I got involved in the journalism world and became a Co-Editor-In-Chief, my class voted me in as the DAR Good Citizen for Dallastown and most importantly my amazing girlfriend who supported me in many of my crazy endeavors. 

As of June 4, 2025, Carl, Williams and myself all graduated and obtained our diplomas. Following the ceremony, we set our sights on the future ahead of us.

Soon I’ll be a Spartan at York College majoring in political science, with hopes of being a lawyer one day.

Carl will be pursuing his keen interest in construction and is planning to work at Kinsley.

Williams is heading to HACC to master the art of welding.

Former Dallastown High School DHH teacher, Paul Haid will be retiring at the end of this school year and will be moving to Rehoboth Beach.

As for Marcarelli and Knovich, it is still unclear where their future will take them, whether that be to another school district or somewhere else.

The future always seems so uncertain and scary; nonetheless, we must always persevere onto bigger and better things whilst appreciating the memories along the way.

For somebody that was never supposed to be here, I owe everything to Dallastown and I am forever grateful to be a Wildcat.