Good things must end for better things to come

G

raduation Day.

It is something we as the Class of 2023 have been looking forward to since August 21st, 2019, the first day of freshman year. For four long years, everything we have worked so incredibly hard for has led up to this moment. It wasn’t always easy, and it wasn’t always fun, but we did it.

As graduation comes and goes, we begin a new chapter in our lives, a chapter of uncertainty. We leave behind the routine of high school—the periodic ringing of bells that has dictated our lives for the past four years, the various high school activities we have put our heart and soul into, and the friendships that have meant so much.

Before we all go our separate ways, I want to remind the Brandon Valley High School Class of 2023 of a couple things. I want to remind us that we are young, that we still have a lot of growing up to do, and it’s OK to not have it all figured out. This is the time in our lives where we can make mistakes, learn from them, and most importantly, grow from them. So, if you are unsure of what your future holds, know that you are not alone. Know that our future plans are not meant to scare us or intimidate us; they are meant to excite us. Most importantly, they should make us hopeful for a new beginning, and not sad for the end.

Finally, I want to remind us all that graduation day is a major milestone, so slow down, take a breath, and cherish it. We get so caught up in the sadness of the “lasts”—the last game, the last performance, the last day of school—that we forget what this is all about. It’s about celebration. A day of recognition for our achievements and a chance to be all together one last time, May 14th is not a day of dwelling in sadness, but carrying on in happiness.

So, as we move forward, look at this day not as one of grief, but as a day of triumph. I truly hope that each and every one of you, my fellow classmates and friends, have created memories you will forever cherish in the halls of Brandon Valley High School. While this may be a bittersweet day for students, teachers, families, and the community, I hope for the Class of 2023 it is simply sweet. Thank you. Thank you, Class of 2023 for the jokes, laughs, and smiles that have heavily outweighed the stress and exhaustion that high school brings. Although not all of us may be ready for graduation, good things must come to an end for better things to come.

Remember, we did it together.

We did it as a family.

We did it as Lynx.