On Sunday, June 11, the students from the Gorham Class of 2023 walked across the stage and received their diplomas.

The ceremony was held on a clear day in front of the bleachers on the high school field. Earlier this year, students and parents voted on whether or not to have graduation at Merrill Auditorium, where it has been held in previous years, but they opted to stay close to home and graduate in Gorham.

The class marched the length of the track before taking their seats. They were led by Kieran Wilkins and Corinna Hahn, who were selected to be this year’s marshals. Once they were all sitting, Principal Brian Jandreau began by giving a short speech celebrating the Class of ‘23.

Next, Class President Sam Larkin took the stage. He gave a speech congratulating his classmates and commending their perseverance through their very unique high school experience. He discussed all the uncertainty that they underwent during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it ended up uniting them in a way that few other classes have been united before.

After Larkin was Rachel Cummings, the class Salutatorian. She delivered an emotional speech that related her journey with mental health to a larger message. She talked about how everybody is connected in the way that we all have some sort of struggle that we hide from the world, and it’s best to never assume that someone is doing okay just because they seem to be put together on the outside.

“It was definitely a little nerve-wracking at first when I was walking up there,” said Cummings, “But I’m incredibly glad that I was able to deliver the message that I wanted to deliver.”

The final student to speak was Faith Connolly, this year’s Valedictorian. Her words centered around the growth that follows when one has the courage to fail.

“Watching how well Sam and Rachel did with their speeches gave me the confidence to go up there and share my message,” said Connolly. “I’m really glad that I was able to finish out my high school career with a speech that felt like the culmination of all of our four years of high school.”

The commencement speaker this year was Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino, a 2001 Gorham graduate who has gone on to study human development and psychology. Her speech talked about life lessons she has learned and included themes of perseverance and embracing failure.

Once all the speeches were over, the graduates’ names were called out one by one and they each took their turn walking across the stage to shake hands with Principal Jandreau and accept their high school diplomas. After that, together they all turned their tassels, threw their caps, and officially became Gorham alumni.

What’s next for the Class of ‘23 really depends on the individual. Many are continuing their education by heading off to two or four-year colleges and universities. Some are heading straight into the workforce or attending programs that will teach them skills like cosmetology.

Lots of students have decided to stay here and go to school in Maine, sticking close to their roots. Just as many are choosing to travel to other states for their future plans, some even going as far as to the opposite coast.

All in all, there are certainly big things ahead for Gorham’s Class of 2023. They are each planning to follow different paths, pursue varying goals, and join an incredibly wide variety of career fields. Yet no matter where everyone ends up, it is seeming like this class of students has the potential to do amazing things, make a difference, and leave a lasting impact on the world.

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Grace Johnson graduated with her class on June 11, 2023, and will be off to college in the fall, where she plans to be a writer for her college newspaper.