Park seniors have officially completed their final adventure of high school: graduation. After four years of hard work and dedication, Park’s class of 2025 walked the graduation stage on June 5. The ceremony was held at the Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium at the University of Minnesota.
Park seniors’ freshman year was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The year started with students being required to wear masks and slowly transitioned into mask-optional towards the end of the year. According to Assistant Principal Alonzo Parks, starting high school during the pandemic impacted how they presented themselves as a class. He said the class had to be flexible with changes but handled it well.
“(Starting high school during the pandemic) symbolizes how they show up. They show up resilient. They show up with any kind of change, whether it’s construction or graduation, and they don’t bat an eye,” Parks said. “A lot of our students do a lot of extracurricular activities and that could be due to some of the adversity that they’ve gone through.”
Graduate Calista Sahlstrof said she started off high school on an uninteresting note but ended off with a stronger routine and drive for motivation.
“So, like I mentioned in my speech, (I was very) unmotivated (during the first few years),” Salhstrof said. “But after getting a job and being in school consistently full time, it really, it’s like discipline, you need to discipline yourself if you want to succeed, you have to be consistent.”
According to graduate Adam Rosvold, getting to graduation day and finishing high school was a big milestone. He said he was grateful he was given the opportunity to speak at the ceremony in front of all of his classmates.
“It felt pretty amazing knowing that the end was upon us, getting ready for my speech and kind of being able to socialize with everyone before we made this walk across the stage to officially graduate,” Rosvold said. “I’ve been working on it for a couple months. I felt confident, and I was very, very appreciative that I was selected to be able to represent my class and being able to speak in front of this graduating class.”
Sahlstrof said getting to the venue for their first trial run was unorganized but after practice the students were ready. She said her favorite part of the ceremony was delivering a speech to the students and being able to speak on stage with her friend.
“It was a little bit chaotic and hectic when we first got here, no one really knew where to go or what to do. We’re just getting guided by the (teachers) in an unfamiliar atmosphere. So, our rehearsal (was) chaotic, but after doing it once, all the students really just got (it) down, they knew where they’re supposed to be,” Sahlstrof said. “I think my favorite part was doing the speech, because it stepped way outside of my comfort zone. I was also with my friend Yaz, so I did a speech with them. And so it was just (a) really crazy experience. It was very stressful, but also worth it.”
Parks said there was a lot of preparation behind the scenes to plan graduation, and while it was a change in scenery for the graduates, it was filled with wonderful people who were there to support the students. He said Park has been a home to many students which was featured during the ceremony with all of the people who made it possible.
“A lot of planning and logistics went on behind the scenes to make this a great event for the families. I think we pulled that off (because) while it wasn’t home, I still think (it) was a great event. Northrop is a great venue, and our staff and students and families are great staff and students and families. So everything kind of went off without a hitch. I’m very proud of our team,” Parks said. “You saw the diversity today, the diversity of the speakers today, the diversity of the name leaders, the diversity of our community. It is home to a very diverse group of people that truly love and care for each other, and I think that showed up today totally.”
According to Sahlstrof, Imani Jackson gave a memorable speech. She said the speech emphasized that high school isn’t the final destination and how students will achieve incredible things after graduation.
“I think (Imani Jackson) sent a really great message of saying no matter how you do in high school, you’re gonna get past it. You’re gonna move on and do other things in your life. That was also said throughout the speeches consistently, where everyone was talking about high school is over, and now we have greater things waiting for us,” Sahlstrof said. “That’s the biggest takeaway, high school is not everything (and) you have the rest of your life to do things.”
Rosvold said graduating feels like a weight off his shoulders and he is ready to move on to the next chapter. He said looking back at his time in high school, it never felt like he was moving quickly until now when he acknowledges all of the support he received throughout his journey.
“It feels amazing. It’s kind of a burden off my back. Now I get to kind of move on (to) bigger and better,” Rosvold said. “It feels like when I was in it I was taking these small baby steps, not looking back at it I was making so much progress, and surrounded by so many people that were supporting me.”
Sahlstrof said her advice would be that early high school struggles don’t define a student’s future, and it’s always possible to turn things around. She said staying hopeful and dedicated is key to fulfilling your goals.
“Even if you don’t do well in your first couple years of high school, it’s never too late to try to turn your academics around,” Sahlstrof said. “I think that’s something a lot of students need to hear, especially for those struggling with mental health. As I can say from personal experience, it doesn’t define who you are. I don’t got any chords, but I still talked at graduation. If you can put your mind to something, then you will accomplish it.”
