On Friday, 93 Grade 12 students from Summerland Secondary School received their diplomas.
Now it’s time for them to begin the work of creating their futures.
Many of the graduating students will continue to college or university in the fall. Others will work or take time to travel.
Now that they have completed high school, they will face some significant challenges.
College and university courses are demanding, and the costs of pursuing further education are significant.
They will face challenges as they enter the labour market and as they deal with high rental costs and home prices almost everywhere in Canada.
And there will be other obstacles and challenges for them to face.
At the same time, there is plenty of room for optimism for these graduates.
Their accomplishments to date have been impressive. Many have excelled in academics, sports, science fairs, extracurricular school activities or service to the community.
Some of these achievements were recognized as students received numerous bursaries and scholarships from the community, as well as provincial recognition and sizeable entrance scholarships from universities.
The graduating students have received a good foundation from which to continue on to their chosen careers and professions.
And some will likely take roles as leaders or contribute to noteworthy achievements at the local, provincial or national level.
This is a time for the graduates to get excited about the many opportunities awaiting them.
The future will not always be easy for this year’s graduates, and they will deal with obstacles and challenges in the years to come.
But they will also be able to rise and meet those challenges with grace and determination.