A ‘bittersweet’ graduation for Vincent Massey

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This article was published 26/06/2021 (1960 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While it wasn’t a typical graduation ceremony, students at Vincent Massey High School had the chance to celebrate from a distance on Friday after more than a year of adjusting to change.

Dozens of cars pulled up to the covered stage on the Keystone Centre grounds for a drive-thru graduation ceremony. The stage was decorated in the school colours of purple and white.

The same as a traditional high school graduation ceremony, grads walked up to the stage to receive their diplomas. Once they had their diploma in hand, they walked back to their vehicles where smiling families whisked them away. Vehicles with waiting grads inside honked instead of clapping in celebration.

Students were allowed two cars at the event — one with their own family inside and a second with a group from another household to cheer them on.

Dressed in a purple robe, Yash Hauradhur said he was “stoked” to be graduating and was happy to be celebrating with his family.

The past year of online schooling was easier than dealing with changes at the beginning of the pandemic, he said, but it was still disappointing to be doing so much online.

He said he plans to move to Calgary with his sister to find a job before possibly going on to pursue post-secondary education.

It wasn’t the graduation Chidi Obijiaku was expecting when he started high school, but he said he was glad students still got a graduation experience.

“That’s the best part, we still got the experience,” he said. “I wish it could have been different, but life happens and nobody could have foreseen the pandemic.”

It was also an occasion for Vincent Massey students to see friends they hadn’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic, Obijiaku added.

“It feels great. … I feel extremely blessed we were able to see everybody and enjoy the day to come here.

“The start of the year was probably challenging for everybody. I know people were going through different mental health issues as well.”

Jorja Hoad said the occasion was “bittersweet,” as she visited with friends after receiving her diploma.

“I think our teachers did a very good job of making the best of a bad situation,” she said.

The drive-in format went well, she said, adding she liked the fact that cars honked in congratulations.

“It was definitely hard not being in person for a lot of classes and missing out on the sports and opportunities and things like that … but we all really worked hard and pushed through to the finish line.”

She said she was grateful and “beyond happy” to be able to end the year with her friends and take photos after a year of disruption and not being able to see them in-person.

École secondaire Neelin High School will be hosting a similar drive-thru graduation at the Keystone Centre on Monday.

Prairie Hope High School’s grad festivities are taking place outside The Firehall event venue in downtown Brandon on Tuesday.

» dmay@brandonsun.com

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