Students, parents and staff took over the Art Hauser Centre parking lot and a portion of Sixth Avenue to celebrate the Grad Class of 2021 at an all day affair.
A total of 222 Carlton students walked up the school’s front door steps to receive their diploma from principal Jeff Court.
Court said the celebration organizers did their best to honour this year’s grad class, despite the challenges.
“We were just brainstorming ways trying to celebrate these kids and show them that we are so proud of them, the resilience that they have shown and their accomplishments,” Court said. “This pandemic has been so hard for everybody and so for us to get through this year. To be able to put on this event for these kids is just so special.”
The ceremonies began with the first group of students showing up at 8:30 a.m. with everything concluded after 5 p.m. Those who could not attend in person could watch a livestream on the Carlton YouTube page.
Court was happy with how everything was going during the morning sessions.
“It’s so smooth. It is going so well. The kids are engaged. They get to spend time with their families….There is just so much opportunity to have some special time in those moments so it has been really good that way,” Court said.
Graduates checked in at the parking lot of the Art Hauser Centre and as they moved along 6th Avenue there were opportunities to visit in a socially distant and healthy way before getting their diplomas on a red carpet at the main entrance to Carlton. Grads were encouraged to take pictures afterwards at Prime Minister’s Park.
Carlton itself had a tough year with the pandemic and losing treasured staff member Victor Thunderchild to COVID-19. Court said he was proud of how grads pulled together afterwards and had a successful year.
“I can stand here with everything that we have had go on, losing Victor (Thunderchild) through the middle of it all has just been so hard, but we have pulled together as a family,” Court said.
“It’s really hard to put into words. The word ‘community’ just keeps coming to mind in every essence. We grieve together and we celebrate together and we hold each other up when times get hard.”
Valedictorian Jolynn Amyotte echoed those sentiments in her grad address.
Amyotte noted how she had written a letter to her future self in Grade 4 and was surprised to see what she thought back then.
At the time, she was more concerned with 4-H and her mom’s bull, who had foot rot, rather than her future. Now, as a new graduate, Amyotte could see how those small interests transformed into bigger ones through the community at Carlton.
Even though the 2021 Grad wasn’t what she pictured a few years ago, Amyotte urged her classmates to not be dissappointed.
“Many of our past expectations may not be met and that’s okay.” she said.
“What if our future selves were able to write a letter to our past selves. We would tell ourselves that it is okay to experience uncertainties because what makes life exciting is not the expected but the unexpected. Tom Althouse once said ‘fear not the unknown it is a sea of possibilities.’”
Amyotte said things like changing from a Phys Ed class to a French class was a great experience because it was a chance she took.
“You see life wouldn’t be exciting without taking new opportunities, life wouldn’t be dramatic without skipping class, hiding in the gym change rooms because none of your friends have a license or a car or money,” Amyotte said.
“So let’s take a moment to show gratitude for all of the people that made our lives exciting. Let’s show gratitude for the friendships made and the experiences shared. As Catherine Wolfe said ‘your life’s path could and will take you left, right, up and down’ but just trust that it will always lead you to where you need to be. Each detour leads you to the possibility of something great,”
Amyotte applauded her classmates for their ability to adapt in a difficult year. The experience, she said, would help them excel in the long run.
“We are the class of resilience,” she said. “We are the class that has faced it all. Undertaking online classes with a sketchy family laptop in a house that never seems to be quiet when you need it to be is in no way short of overcoming adversity. These and all other adversities are blessings in disguise setting us up for the future.”
She concluded by reflecting on the life lays before the class.
“The world is waiting for us to embrace the happy accidents, to embrace the unknown, to embrace the seas possibilities,” she said. “Your past self would be proud to see what you are doing now, your present self with feel at peace knowing you are giving everything that you have got and your future self with thank you for it. But don’t forget it’s your life and your path. Enjoy it, experience new things, never stop learning and keep getting better at what you do. That sounds like success to me, how about you?”
“Congratulations graduating class of 2021. We did it.”
