Principal praises perseverance

The graduating class of 2026 at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School was celebrated for its resilience, kindness and determination during the graduation ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

A total of 256 students made up the graduating class, although not all attended the ceremony in Assiniboine Credit Union Place at the Keystone Centre.

Acting principal Jennifer Emberly said “perseverance” was the word that immediately came to mind when reflecting on this year’s graduates.

“This is a great class full of character and kindness,” she told the Sun shortly after the ceremony. “Many of our students now experience a lot of struggles and challenges, and they all kept going, they all made it to the stage today.”

In her address, Emberly defined perseverance as “the ability to keep moving forward toward your goal, despite facing obstacles” and “the refusal to give up when things get hard.”

“When I look at the class of graduates sitting here in front of us, I see so many individuals who, even when they were faced by a challenge, made the choice to keep pushing ahead, to be resourceful and to problem solve,” she said.

Emberly said the school’s varsity football team is an example of determination as the team demonstrated what it means to persevere through its motto, “All we got is all we need.” She reminded graduates that “success after graduation is less about talent and more about perseverance and persistence, the determination to keep going when others stop.”

Looking ahead, she encouraged graduates to remain optimistic.

“My wish for every single one of you today is that you never stop believing in what’s possible, and that you persevere until you achieve your goals and your dreams,” Emberly said.

She also offered some humour as students prepared to leave high school behind.

“You spent years asking your teachers, ‘Will this be on the test today?’ Life is handing you your final exam without a study guide,” she told graduates. “There are no answer keys, but I’m confident that you have learned how to learn, how to adapt and how to thrive.”

Emberly said, “To the Class of 2026, go confidently in the direction of your dreams, make your mark on this world.”

Valedictorian MQ Apena centred his speech on love, community and belonging, describing Crocus Plains as a place that felt like home.

“It definitely makes me proud to be able to share that experience with the crowd,” Apena told the Sun. “Crocus has really felt like home. They made me better in so many ways, made me get better as a person, and just built me to who I am today.”

Apena said the love and support he experienced throughout high school shaped both him and many of his classmates.

“I feel like I’ve shared a lot of that in high school, and I feel like I’ve also received that in a lot of ways,” he said.

During his valedictory address, Apena encouraged classmates to embrace love in everyday actions.

“Love doesn’t have to be colourful or about romance,” he said. “It could be smiling at a stranger who walks by in the hallway, or it could be complimenting someone’s outfit or makeup. Love is all the little things that make other people feel seen.”

Student council president Nivedita Joseph praised the graduating class for its strong school spirit and commitment to serving others, noting that students helped launch a cultural showcase and raised more than $700 for community organizations throughout the year.

Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson challenged graduates to focus not only on achievements, but also on the impact they leave on others.

“How we do our work is as important as the work that we do,” Gustafson told the audience. “Your path will be most rewarding when you focus on the positive impact that you can leave on others and the integrity with which you approach that.”

School board trustee Calistus Ekenna said success is not measured by a single moment or a single direction.

“It is built over time through effort, resilience and commitment,” he said.

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