Early graduate spotlight

The pandemic has brought about challenges and disappointments, but it has specifically affected high school students in a way that they will never forget. At an extremely influential point in their lives, high school seniors have had to sacrifice ring dance, a final homecoming, and potentially a prom and a traditional graduation ceremony. Given those reasons and others 48 seniors made the decision to graduate early.

Graduate Lily Brown said that the pandemic was her main reason for graduating early. She originally didn’t even realize she was eligible to do so, but after hearing from a friend who was doing it, she realized that it was a good option for her too.

“I already had all the credits I needed to graduate, and with COVID still around I didn’t really want to return to school,” said Brown. “Eventually I got an email from my counselor saying that I could, so after a talk with my parents, I did.”

Brown graduated after the end of the first semester. She described her graduation experience as anticlimactic.

“Graduation was nothing like I expected to be,” said Brown. “I mean, I understand the reasons behind it because of COVID. The faculty did the best they could considering the circumstances and it was appreciated. They mentioned we were invited back in June for the ceremony, but I don’t know if I’ll be attending it. I walked into the school, turned in my chromebook, received a flower and diploma, took a few photos with my mom and left.” 

However, graduating early has opened up opportunities for Brown to focus on other aspects of her life, such as work and church.

“I’ve been working a lot more hours since I graduated,” said Brown. “I am currently working at Aeropostale, and will be attending Old Dominion University in the fall to major in film and TV production. Other than that I’ve tried to keep busy by writing more scripts; sewing blankets, bags, and pillows; yoga; and attending Church and Youth Group every Sunday.”

Brown has some advice for seniors who will be graduating in a few months.

“The best advice I can give to students who haven’t graduated yet is to always have faith,” said Brown. “I know these times are hard. Whether you have faith in God, yourself, or something else, faith is important. It helps give me motivation to continue, it gives me a reason for living, it helps strive to be a better version of myself and it may help others too. 

Brown also suggests putting yourself first. 

“I had trouble doing that a lot in my life and more specifically when I chose to graduate early. I was worried about how my family may view me. You know, not going to school- I mean I didn’t want them to think I’m slacking or become a home body afterwards. I was worried about one of the only friends I had at school and how she said she would be lonely if I left. I was worried about everyone else except me, but I have come to realize that that’s okay. It’s okay to put yourself first every once and a while. Sometimes it’s really needed for mental, emotional, and physical health.”

Abigail Conant also chose to graduate early.

“I chose to graduate early because of COVID,” said Conant. “I used to love school, but virtual classes made me so upset and the academy wasn’t the same.”

Like Brown, Conant is spending more time working after graduation.

“Right now I have a full time job as a manager at Journeys,” said Conant. “I would only have been able to become a manager if I graduated early so that pushed me to do so. However, I don’t know what I’d like to do with my future so I will likely just do TCC in the fall and continue to work while I figure things out.” 

Being a graduate doesn’t feel real yet to Conant.

“As of right now, I’ve only really gotten my diploma and am done with classes,” said Conant. “So honestly, I don’t feel as if I graduated. Everything feels so open-ended and incomplete. I haven’t been to the school, seen teachers, or been engaged in a class in so long, so me being ‘graduated’ feels so insignificant.”

Graduating early was a pretty simple process for Conant. 

“I hadn’t originally planned on doing so, but when I came to terms with the fact that I most likely would not be returning to school, I decided to email my counselor,” said Conant.

Conant’s advice to current seniors is to “just make the most of it.” 

“You are almost done with high school, so just push through and try to end the year on a positive note,” said Conant.

Congratulations to the following seniors who graduated early:

DIYNAH ALEXANDER

ALEX ARZOLA

KYLE BABCOCK

DEVIN BEINKAMPEN

LILY BROWN

WAHKEL CARRINGTON

OCEANA CARSON

LILLIAN CARTER

NATHANIEL COLVIN

ABIGAIL CONANT

JEREMIAH DRENNING

ADRIANNA FERNANDEZ

ELIZABETH FERRARA

ARIYANNA GIBBS

DIAMOND GRANT

DERRELL GREEN

ELIJAH GUERRIER

ELIJAH HARVEY

MICHAEL LAMBERT

MIA LANGLEY

KIERSIN LONGTIN

DONOVAN MACON

CIARA MARTIN

JAYA MATOS

MARYHIA MCCARTER

D’AVIAN MCIVER

MYKALA NELSON

MYLAH NORMAN

ABIAH OLDS

JORDYN PIANE

MCKENSIE POTTER-JAMES

JASMINE REYNOLDS

AARON RICARDO

DAWN RIVERA

MIKEL RODRIGUEZ

LESLIE ROSARIO

AUTUMN SISSON

HAILEY SLEMMER

ADRIANNE SMITH

AIYANA SMITH

LEILANI SMITH

BRIANNA SOBLOTNE

ISAIAH SPRATLING

ANDREW TORN

SOFIA VEVERKA

KENDALL WATTS

XAVIER WILLIAMS

ELISHA WILSON