By Claudette Wesse, 2026 GHS Graduate
Photo Credit: Sapphire Moon Barter, South Portland High School graduate, Class of 2026
Claudette Wesse with friends Tamia Lema-Santellan and Tabitha Lavigne after graduation ceremony.

Finally, the anticipated day arrived. On the date that freshman-year Claudette thought she had ages before she had to be concerned about. On the date that pre-teen Claudette had dismissed from reality. And the life stage that the seniors who would visit my elementary school classroom were experiencing.

Graduation truly took me by surprise. It is a natural milestone for most people, but for most of my life, I paid it no mind. This is probably why I felt like a baby gaining consciousness for the first time in its life, moments before I was walking out of the gym door to start marching to “Pomp and Circumstance,” hand in hand with my dear friend Tabitha, surrounded by the precious friends and peers I had spent nearly every single day with for the past four years or so.

I didn’t fully grasp that this chapter of my life was ending until the morning of the wonderfully tragic day, while I was weeping in my bedroom, trying to get ready for the event, as I was reminiscing on the extraordinary memories created within the walls of Gorham High School, with phenomenal friends, classmates, and stellar teachers. In that moment, I felt incredibly small; I knew I was a part of something bigger than myself. I will never let go of that feeling.

Although I was already feeling mentally unprepared for graduation, the feeling was only exacerbated when I opened my email to see that graduation had been adjusted to begin four hours earlier than its original time, moments before laying my head on my pillow and shutting my eyes for the rest of the day. Immediately, panic arose as I was making phone calls to my family, confirming the time change to ensure they would still be there to support me on my big day. Yes, we were warned that a change in time would be possible, but I am an optimist and was praying for nice summer weather with a bright, smiling sun.

Well, if high school has taught me anything, it is to be prepared for the unexpected and adaptability, and the Class of 2026 beautifully displayed this quality.

All the candidates were on time, in proper order, ready to walk out the door to gloriously celebrate each other and proceed with the ceremony through gray clouds and pouring rain. One of the highlights of it all was the buoyant atmosphere in the auditorium and gym an hour before the ceremony, with smiles at the shooting cameras and overlapping conversations.

One pair at a time, we marched, waved, and hugged our way to our seats, seamlessly following the program rehearsed throughout the week of marching practice. The profound solidarity I felt with my peers as we were all immersed in raindrops as we joyfully listened to the addresses from our class president, Stella Moores; salutatorian, Eleanor Morgan; valedictorian, Kaleigh Bauer; and keynote speaker, Mr. Patterson, is irreplaceable.

Of course, the pièce de résistance was the presentation of the diplomas and the cheers that came along with every name read aloud. I felt immensely happy walking on that stage and feeling the love and support of everyone there, and of course, from my family, who were there to cheer the loudest for me. With a motion from right to left of tassels, we were officially graduates, GHS alumni. It was a nice moment singing our class song playfully before releasing our caps into the great, open sky. In the end, the rain was gone, the skies were clear, and the sun was peeking through the clouds, showing hope for a bright new day. That is the perfect metaphor for this entire chapter of my life.