MALLAIG - It was an afternoon filled with memories, smiles, and a group of high school graduates dressed in their best on May 28 in Mallaig.
École Mallaig School was among the first few schools in the St. Paul Education area to celebrate the graduating class of 2022. For the first time since 2019, the school's gymnasium was filled with family, friends and school staff in honour of the occasion.
St. Paul Education board chair offered students a few thoughts, recalling how they were only in Grade 10 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. That year, they started the year under normal circumstances and all was as it should be. Then, in March of 2020, everything took an abrupt change.
Nothing prepared students or staff for the changes that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starosielski recalled telling her own daughter, who was in her Grade 12 year at the time, that everything would be back to normal in a couple of weeks. But, those weeks turned into months, and the months turned into two years.
"Normal has been difficult to get back to," acknowledged Starosielski. During that time, parents and teachers tried to model resiliency, and the graduating class of 2022 remained "hopeful and vigilant."
"They made different kind of memories," and withstood challenges that were brought on over the past two years. In that time, they learned to appreciate the small nuances of life, and Starosielski thanked them for being strong, resilient and hopeful.
Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn Van Dijken, whose constituency includes Mallaig, was on hand to speak to the graduating class also. He noted that in order to be successful at something in life, you need to start something. Every choice sets the stage for the rest of your life, he added.
"Remember to be confident, yet humble; strong, yet kind," said Van Dijken.
County of St. Paul Coun. Dale Hedrick, whose son was among those on stage, encouraged graduates to be leaders, not followers, and "do what you want to do... but still listen to your mom and dad."
Mallaig School Principal Kellie Handford also acknowledged that the road graduates have travelled wasn't always what they expected, and it was not always easy. But, there were exception and unique moments that took place, and their time in high school has made them who they are.
Valedictorian Jayda Dinter-Toma took a moment at the podium, thanking everyone who helped organize the graduation celebrations. While she was relatively new to the school, she noted that it quickly felt like another home.
As someone who has moved multiple times in her life, she encouraged fellow graduates to explore the world and "explore what you love." Dinter-Toma noted that success goes hand-in-hand with happiness.
There will no doubt be unexpected hurdles that appear in each of the graduates' lives, she added, as she wished her classmates luck with achieving their dreams.
During the ceremony, graduating student Kiera Dubeau passed on the Key of Success Award to the class of 2023's Burhanuddin Yama.
