HTA grads cross stage with gratitude

Holy Trinity Academy graduates didn’t have a conventional ceremony, but they were grateful to cross a stage in-person.

Donning their caps and gowns, students gathered outside HTA at 9 a.m. on June 25 to have photos taken with their chosen cohort groups before proceeding to their designated classroom to view the live-streamed graduation ceremony.

They received their diplomas from principal Carmen Ostafichuk in the atrium of the school, in front of cameras that broadcast the entire event to their families and friends at home, and to their fellow grads in different classrooms.

“Even though our parents aren’t here, our families, I’m still excited and my family is excited to see it online, too,” said Nathan Fieseler while waiting for his photo outside. “At a regular grad you wouldn’t be around your friends, you’d be in a seating arrangement, so this way you can be more intimate and have your friends next to you.”

After a year of on-again and off-again in-person learning, he said he was grateful to graduate at the school and not have a virtual ceremony.

Classmate Karla Iwamoto shared the excitement. She said learning virtually was difficult because the motivation wasn’t the same outside the classroom, but the encouragement of teachers helped her through.

She was looking forward to crossing the stage surrounded by friends, an event that seemed surreal until the day-of.

“It’s like you’ve been waiting so long just to walk the stage and then comes and it feels real – I’m actually walking the stage and moving on,” said Iwamoto. “It’s crazy, and I am so happy.”

Class valedictorian Alexandra Schuck was thankful for being in-person to celebrate with her fellow grads.

“I didn’t have any expectations of what it would look like, so this has been really great,” said Schuck prior to the ceremony.

During her address, the McGill University-bound grad said when she entered Grade 10 at HTA, her vision for the next three years was far from reality.

“I doubt I could explain what actually occurred to my Grade 10 self,” said Schuck.

She reminded her peers that an unconventional Grade 12 year helped them to grow and find strength and motivation to get through difficult times.

“Now we can appreciate the gift of walking across a physical stage today,” said Schuck. “We have thrived even when it was challenging, and are stronger people for it.

“There are no constraints in our potential and we are limitless in our abilities. Our accomplishments will be highly deserved, just as our diplomas are today.”

Jordan Webster, the salutatorian of the graduating class, said there was something special about the 2021 grads and the teachers who guided them through high school.

“Everyone here today is outstanding, and I am proud to say I am a member of the graduating class of 2021,” said Webster. “The ‘special’ in us will not go unrecognized in our future endeavours, and we will harness it as we set out to accomplish great things.”

Principal Carmen Ostafichuk acknowledged the unprecedented and unforeseen end to high school for the 2021 class. She said the past year has been difficult for many people in different ways, but she felt it was hardest on high school students.

“This year you have had to accept that things in life are not perfect, and you have had to learn that sometimes things are out of your control, and you have had to realize that the timing can be really, really bad,” said Ostafichuk.

Throughout the year, she said it was more common to hear excitement than grumbling and enthusiasm rather than complaining.

Ostafichuk said she closed out the school year with gratitude.

“I am grateful for you and I am grateful that while the whole world was off-kilter we got to come together here every day,” she said. “Class of 2021, you will be remembered for the time, for who you are and for how you responded.”