As the 2023-24 school year comes to a close, graduation is near for the GHS seniors. Graduation celebrates the accomplishments of the seniors, highlighting every student for their achievements.
Several people will speak at graduation including superintendent Dr. Kim Amidzich as well as the three valedictorians Charlie Smitsdorff, Genevieve Skibicki, and Henri Stilling.
These elected seniors Caiya Fuentes, Kathryn Lindblom, Katie Bruss, and Tyler Filetti will also have a role. Lindblom explains her role. “Officers’ role was to figure out how the graduation was going to look like, in the students interest. We create the playlist, give speeches, and coordinate the class gift,” she said.
Class of 2024 voted and decided that science teacher Zach Geiger would be the faculty speaker at graduation. “I feel really honored. I have never been voted to speak and I am so excited to add even a little bit to this Class’s big day,” she said.
Another speaker, Principal Steve Lodes, describes how he writes his speech every year. “It has gotten easier, and shorter, over time. I basically plan on my speech being two parts: A unique message to the class – could be a quote, a memory, an event that we all shared,”He said. And I end the speech the same every year, with a quote from one of my favorite songs/artists and applying it to the graduates’ lives,” he said.
Graduation wouldn’t run without the teacher volunteers. Business teacher Mary Guida is one of a few teachers that volunteers every year.
“I like the time in the gym before the graduation ceremony starts. Everyone is happy, proud, maybe a little nervous. Students are looking forward to that next chapter in their lives, realizing that they just completed a major milestone,” she said. “After graduation they won’t see a lot of those people ever again, but they just spent almost 13 years of their lives together. Big changes are coming for everyone there- students, parents, siblings. It’s just a cool experience.”
Graduation is not only a special experience for the students but also for Lodes, who describes the class of 2024 as, “talented, resilient, and resourceful. You all started high school with COVID lunch in the Upper Gym and along your 4-year journey you fought hard to get as many of the traditional HS experiences back as you possibly could. There has been some good student leadership that has paved the way,” he said.
Graduation is a bittersweet ending to an eventful four years for the class of 2024. Senior Jessie Wang describes how she feels that her high school career is coming to an end.
“I’m appreciative that I’m done with Highschool and I’m excited for new beginnings, for new responsibilities, and new chances to make friends. I know it’s going to be difficult to let go of some things but I’m ready to turn a new page in my life,” she said.
