Graduation took place this past Saturday at 10 am and the class of 2026 has officially said goodbye to their high school career. The ceremony was beautiful and a perfect send off to such an amazing group of people.
The speeches were beautiful coming from Lindsey Solomon, Aydin Kabir, and Avery Gamble. All three graduates made beautiful points that focused on things they learned during high school and what the future may hold.
Solomon made a metaphor comparing her camera roll to her high school career, explaining how one photo, or moment, does not define a whole experience. The moments behind the photos mean more than the photos themselves, but still managed to take two pictures onstage with the whole graduating class.
Valedictorian Kabir spoke on how GPAs tell selective stories and don’t matter as much as the effort put into earning them. He compared life to rock climbing, and how falling is not a bad thing as it gives you data that helps to move you forward and get better. He also told a story about derooting a plant to put it somewhere else where it will thrive better, giving future college students comfort in the fact that the switch from home to school may be difficult, but will all be worth it in the end.
Gamble begins her speech with a quote from her favorite book “Anthropocene Reviewed”, “Life is never simple paths- only dizzying labyrinths folding in on themselves”. She uses this to compare how she needed a center in the “dizzying labyrinths”, connecting it to how her 2 families were her foundation and her center. She mentions how high school will have wrong turns and dead ends but your friends and family will be there to guide you along the way. Lastly, she speaks about how we all come from the same foundation, the bright futures, and to always appreciate the tiny moments.
After the speeches concluded, the students collected their diplomas and were faced with claps, cheers, and even horns from their supportive friends and family.
The ceremony ended with the classic cap toss and everybody gathering on the grass to take pictures and offer words of pride and encouragement to the graduates.
Congratulations class of 2026, you will do great things!
