Spirits were high as the Lawrence High School Class of 2026 came together one last time under skies that turned from sodden to sunshine.
The 335 seniors gathered at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton for the school’s 58th annual graduation ceremony on June 23.
The Trenton Ancient Order of the Hibernians Pipe Band, its members dressed in kilts, led the way onto the arena floor. The band was followed by the school district’s administrators, school board members, faculty and staff.
As the LHS Symphony Orchestra played “Pomp and Circumstance,” the seniors walked purposely onto the arena floor. Their faces showed a range of emotions – from shy and bewildered, to big smiles and a wave to family and friends in the stands.
Once her classmates had taken their seats on the folding chairs on the floor, Senior Class President Raina Lewis welcomed her classmates, their families and friends.
Lewis shared that for the past year, she had envisioned herself looking out at her classmates at graduation and wanting to leave them with something real and something that she had learned.
“There is one thing that stood out, and that is the importance of the human bond. Every person we encounter, no matter how briefly, has value and leaves us with something. They shape us and teach us what we need to learn,” she said.
Lewis emphasized treating people with kindness because behind every smile and every joke, “there is a whole story we don’t get to read. So much of who they are is happening where no one else can see.”
“It costs nothing to be kind and you never know whose day or whose life you might change. Appreciate the people who come into your life as you begin your next chapter,” Lewis said.
LHS Principal David Adam told the soon-to-be-graduates that their high school experience was never just about grades, test scores, athletic accomplishments, performances or activities. It was about discovering strengths they did not know they possessed.
“It was about building resilience through challenges and finding confidence during moments of uncertainty. It was about learning to persevere when things did not go according to plan,” Adam said.
Adam encouraged the seniors to keep focused and to not allow themselves to be distracted by the expectations of others or by the obstacles that they will encounter. There will be roadblocks, curveballs and some challenges that seem overwhelming.
“(But) the key is to remain focused on what matters to you – your goals, your core values, your purpose and the impact you hope to make. Do not allow setbacks to define your story,” he said.
Class Salutatorian Sharon Vasudevan expanded on the theme of seniors defining themselves. Do not allow others to do it for them, and do not succumb to peer pressure, she said.
Vasudevan said that following the crowd wasn’t worth it because happiness never followed. External approval is only temporary, and while applause may validate one’s choices, applause always comes to an end.
“If your happiness depends on an audience, it leaves the moment applause gets quiet. There is a difference between short-term validation and long-term fulfillment. Satisfaction in life is not defined on how others perceive you,” she said.
Vasudevan said she spent years trying to blend in, only to realize later that she was meant to stand out. She saw the world differently and heard the world differently. Being different was not the problem. Ignoring it was the problem, she said.
“The qualities that make you feel alone today may be the qualities that define your future. So, Class of 2026, trust your heartbeat, even when it doesn’t sound like everyone else’s. Because in the end, the only life you have to live is your own,” she said.
Class Valedictorian Joshua Liu recalled his first day as a freshman at LHS. Not only was it a new school, it was a new school in a new state. His family had recently moved to Lawrence Township and he was finding his way around.
“All of us know what it feels like to begin somewhere. We have all had the experience of finding our place in a new environment, meeting new people and learning from out mistakes. None of us became who we are today all at once,” Liu said.
Looking back on their individual journeys, none of his classmates are likely to remember every single detail from every single accomplishment or interaction they had, but they are likely to remember how they felt in those moments, he said.
“We remember the person who made us laugh and the person who made us feel like we matter. And if that’s how we remember others, then maybe it’s also how we are remembered. All of us sitting here today have left some kind of impact on someone else,” he said.
After graduation, the seniors will start all over again in new schools, jobs, communities and teams. It’s another chance to decide what kind of memories they want to leave and what kind of impact they want to make, Liu said.
“As we leave LHS, I hope we are remembered not only for what we achieved, but for how we cared, how we grew and how we made others feel,” he said.
School board president Michele Bowes emphasized the power of gratitude – of reflecting on things the seniors can be thankful for. It can be thanking a teacher, a parent, a coach or a friend, or even appreciating a lesson learned from a difficult experience.
“When you practice gratitude, something powerful happens. You begin to focus less on what is missing and more on what is possible. Gratitude helps you to see opportunities where others see problems,” Bowes said.
“As you leave here tonight, remember this. Your future is not limited by where you come from, by what others expect of you, or by the mistakes you may make along the way. Your journey is just beginning,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Robyn Klim reinforced the message that the Class of 2026 should focus not only on what they will accomplish, but on how they will impact the people and communities around them.
“At Lawrence Township Public Schools, we often say, ‘Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.’ This community will always be part of your story, just as you will be a part of ours. Stay in touch, stay grounded and don’t forget to give back,” KLim said.
Then, one by one, the seniors lined up and walked across the stage to pick up their diplomas.
After the last senior had received a diploma and was seated, Adam asked the Class of 2026 to rise.
Lewis, as class president, led her classmates in moving the tassel on their mortarboard caps from right to left to signal graduation.
“There you have it, ladies and gentlemen,” Adam said.
A sea of red caps filled the air as the seniors tossed them skyward, and the Class of 2026 was history.
