Always Smiling: Jeffrey Desena

Jeffrey Desena, Class of 1996, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? I am currently the District Resource Officer for all of the public schools in the Town of Watertown. I spend the majority of my day at Watertown High School but I also teach D.A.R.E. at Swift Middle School. The program is geared towards helping kids make smart decisions and really go over their options prior to high school. In my spare time I coach youth soccer in town for WAYS.

How'd you get here? It was a long road, to be honest. I graduated from WHS in 1996 and had no clue what career path I wanted to follow. I attended Naugatuck Valley Community College initially for Business Management. I felt like something was missing and took a few Sociology and Criminal Justice courses which really deepened my interest in Law Enforcement. I began taking police tests and was hired by the Town of Watertown. Over my 18 years here, I’ve worked night and day shift patrol, did a temporary Detective Bureau stint, and have been Union Vice President and Treasurer. The School Resource Officer position was posted in 2016 and it is something I always wanted to do. I felt like I would be a good fit because even though I had a great family growing up, I often found myself in trouble due to bad decision making and poor friend choices. I can relate to the kids and give them constructive criticism based on my experiences. I have been amazed at their trust in me and there is not a day that goes by where I do not go to work with a smile. It can feel like a burden when a lot of kids count on you, but I love it and would not have it any other way. I feel like I found my true niche in my profession.

What are your goals? My future goals are to continue working with kids, and trying to be a positive influence. When I retire I would ultimately like to move down south. The hotter the better.

What has been your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge has been trying to find myself within my career. Although I love policing, I always felt like something was missing being on patrol. A lot of your interactions with people happen in negative situations. Once in a while, you feel like you make a difference, but a lot of the time you have to uphold the law and be stern. As District Resource Officer, it me an opportunity to do the community policing I absolutely love to do.

What has been your happiest moment?: When kids tell me they appreciate what I do for them.

Advice for WHS Students? Just be yourself. High School is about finding yourself. I feel when you are being yourself - that is true happiness.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Listen to Mom and Dad! They were right.

One Small Step for a Man, One Giant Leap for Watertown: Clive Arlington

Clive Arlington, Class of 1955, Fairhope, Alabama

What are you up to? I'm 80 years old, retired and enjoying the good life on the Eastern shore of Mobile Bay.

How'd you get here? After graduating from WHS, I joined the United States Air Force and received training as an electronic technician. I worked as a technician for 2 years in my 4 year stint. I started as a freshman at the University of Florida in 1961, graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. Hired by Boeing to work on the Apollo program at Kennedy Space Center - eventually selected to the launch team for Apollo, SkyLab and Shuttle programs. You likely saw me at the console during those televised launch activities. 

During the Shuttle days I worked for Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) and was sent to work on projects in Texas, California, Denver, Colorado and New Orleans, Louisiana - eventually promoted to executive management before taking an early retirement in 1993. I worked for the next 17 years in the IT business with two small companies. Retired (for the fourth) time in 2010.

I'm married. The youngest of my two sons passed away in 1994. Brian lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. His 3 children (my grandchildren) live in Phoenix and Tennessee.

My classmates at WHS will likely recall me as the shortest, most mischievous young man in our class. Having emigrated from England in 1950, I still had a British accent that I used to my advantage.

What are your goals? I knew in my Junior year at WHS that I wanted to be an engineer. When my employers began grooming me for management, I recognized my lack of training in that area and attended graduate school at night finally receiving a Masters in Management Science from TCU in 1971. At the age of 40 or so, reaching a healthy and comfortable retirement was my goal. I am there, although it took longer than I had hoped.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Find the proper combination of humility and self-confidence as you progress in your career. Treat others as you would want to be treated and don't forget where you came from.

This photo was taken after the successful launch of the first Shuttle on April 12, 1981. Immediately behind the guy numbered 25, you can see a man in a dark shirt leaning over behind the console. Directly behind him is Clive. Clive is wearing a white shirt and tie and there is a guy to his right in a white jacket with his right arm held high.

Animals and Art: Bonnie Longo DaSilva

Bonnie Longo DaSilva, Class of 1986, Prospect, CT

What are you up to? Advocating for animals; showing, teaching and sharing how amazing and wonderful they are. We can all co-exist to make the world a better place to live. I'm using my photo designs to show bring awareness to nature and animals. Learn more on my website: bonniemariesphotodesigns.com and my online store.

What are your goals? To serve and help others and to advocate for animals. Also, to share my appreciation of nature through my art.

What has been your biggest challenge? Well that's a huge question! Life is full if changes and challenges and I've learned to weather it and ride the wave. I was born and pronounced deceased and revived. I lost my Dad at 7 years old, and I've lost many loves and family members along the way. I'm still not back to normal from an injury in 2010. There were a lot of challenges for me in school because I was labeled with a learning disability. I’ve learned we need to strengthen our core to overcome and stand firm through life; to move through life humbled and to be a survivor. I've learned that along the way, we need appreciate every day of life.

What has been your happiest moment? Watching my nephews grow up and sharing my life with animals. From them, I learn to be a better human. Also, taking photos of nature.

Advice for WHS Students? Follow your passions and dreams. Work where you are inspired and always learn to appreciate. Feel good and love what you do. Weather the difficult days one day at a time, as they will pass as clouds. Life would be boring without all of the bad parts. Never say never and don't lose hope; always hope and a new day with be on it's way. ☮

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Learn; learn, as much as you can and apply it to what you love in life. Take time to take it all in with open eyes and to see all of the wonders. Don't waste time at a job that you don't want to do. Life does go by really fast when you're not paying attention. I learned this from Bobby, my nephew. 

Full of Spirit: Elizabeth Saraceno

Elizabeth Saraceno, Class of 2009, Brooklyn NY

What are you up to? I manage sales for a liquor brand in Brooklyn.

How'd you get here? I moved to New York at age 18 for college at Pace University and I spent a year in Westchester, New York, about an hour north from midtown NYC. I quickly decided it wasn't for me. I ended up transferring to the city campus and moved into an apartment. I bartended throughout college to make extra money and ended up really falling in love with spirits and the cocktail scene. I spent my free time studying liquor and flavor profiles and traveled to distilleries and breweries to learn more. I got my first job working for a distributor selling small craft liquor in the lower east part of Manhattan. It was tough, my rent was $1,350 a month and I made $400 a week.. do the math. However, being surrounded by so many successful and progressive people only made me work harder. I was the youngest and one of the few females in the industry.. I had the odds against me but it only pushed me harder. I eventually moved into a different job, working directly for a supplier. I went from managing an area in Manhattan to managing a brand in all 5 boroughs. It was great for a while but soon I left to go back to a different, yet bigger liquor distributor, which is where I am now.

What are your goals? To become a manager for an entire division at a large liquor distributor, to live alone in Brooklyn, and to have a washer/dryer/dishwasher in my apartment.

What has been your biggest challenge? Moving to NYC at age 19, completely by yourself, is a struggle in itself. I see a lot of people I went to high school with that live in New York City stick together and that’s great, but I pride myself in moving somewhere and making new friends, a NYC family, my life. I feel like when you’re a kid and you’re growing up you adapt to the life your parents chose and you know nothing else; but to move to a place when you’re so young unafraid, I think that’s a challenge in itself. I love the life that I created, but the biggest challenge was doing everything alone; finding an apartment, moving in with strangers, starting new jobs, walking into new bars and restaurants to form relationships for work, and even something as simple as making friends. I’m grateful, a lot of people give up on NYC after the first couple years but I’m going on my 9th year here.

What has been your happiest moment? My happiest moments are always when I walk out of a bar (an account for work) and feel that I nailed the meeting. The account may have placed a large order and given me a cocktail placement on their menu, and I swear there’s no better feeling than feeling like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Advice for WHS Students? You don’t have to do what you go to college for. Your major is just a guide to get your degree and if you’re passionate about something off the beaten path, there’s a job for it. Also, move out of Watertown. Get out of your comfort zone. Be friends with people who are different than you. Have conversations with people of different races, cultures, religions, upbringings. People have some crazy stories and you learn so much when you just listen. Also, nobody cares about who you were in high school. The real world doesn’t care. You don’t put prom queen on your resume.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? I would tell myself to spend more time caring about people that matter. I spent a lot of time caring about all of the wrong things. I also stressed myself out over minuscule things.. things that I can’t even remember now because they’re so irrelevant. I would also tell myself that I’m really proud of you, for having the courage to move to NYC, because I truly love my life.

The Good Life: Paul Frohn

Paul Frohn, Class of 1979, Portsmouth, NH

What are you up to? Retired Air Force and currently in the FEMA Reserves

 How'd you get here? Stationed at Pease AFB 1981. Since I left Watertown/Oakville, I have had a lot of adventures. I completed the last item on my bucket list in September when I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge on a bike. February 23rd, my grandson was born, so all I have left to do in life is to enjoy life itself. I hope my fellow graduates were able to find their life adventures like I have. My military goals started when I was going to Swift Junior High and it is still going in retirement. 

What are your goals? Happiness.

What has been your biggest challenge? Don't have any.

What has been your happiest moment? Family.

Advice for WHS Students? Follow your dreams and complete your bucket list ASAP.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Do not worry about what others think. Follow your dreams ASAP and don't be afraid to ask. If you don't ask, you are stuck with a no.