SRSS celebrates the turning of a new page

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This article was published 30/06/2023 (823 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The room was full of hope, excitement, and dreams of the future as the graduating class of the Steinbach Regional Secondary School got their diplomas on Tuesday.

“In life you’ll face mountains seemingly too high to conquer…utter disappointments and unforeseen changes. However, when talking about overcoming hardships we the class of 2023 know it all too well…While many may remember us as the kids who went to high school during the pandemic, I will remember us as the class who persevered through and thrived in challenges. You came out the other side and today you will be walking across this stage. You should be proud of yourself for how far you have come…You deserve to be celebrated,” said valedictorian Ayesha Badiola.

Badiola, who interns at Golden West, plans to take Creative Communications at Red River in the fall and become a journalist.

For Naemie Thiessen, she plans on going to southern Germany and pursuing Bible studies. She said she was very excited to graduate and excited for the future.

“I was very honoured to study amongst everybody and it was very much a pleasure,” she said of her graduating class.

Arianna Penner will study to be a nail tech and said her time in high school will be remembered by the people she met.

“Do what you love, stay strong and if you ever need help just contact the right people,” she advised her graduating class.

But going to school and getting a job is not all there is after graduation. Jared Verrier plans to travel the world and meet as many interesting people as he can.

“I feel pretty good (graduating). We’re finally closing a chapter in our life and opening a new one…Live your life! Even if you think everything is not OK, everything will be OK.”

For parent Melissa Cosens, whose son Isaiah graduated, the day was exciting as it was quite a journey for her son to get to where he is. Her wish for him in his future is to “live his life with integrity and honouring who he is and who God made him to be.”

“I think it’s important just to get up every day and do the best that you can do. To remember that you’re probably stronger than you realize and you can probably do more than you realize. And to have faith in yourself so that you can go out a do some great things,” she said.

For Isaiah, he plans on going to college but he’s not sure what he will study. He said he’d like to get a car and in the future get married and have a small family.

Parent Olga Block, whose son Chris graduated, said her message to him is to “focus in life in that which is good.”

Her hopes and dreams for him are that “he’s always there for other people like he’s doing now and that he continues doing that.”

At the graduation ceremony 409 students got their diplomas.