Friday, May 23, marked the day Social Circle High School (SCHS) said goodbye to its Class of 2025 and welcomed a brand new slate of alumni. 

For four years, members of the Class of 2025 spent time underneath the Friday night lights of Redskin Stadium. On May 23, it meant something different. 

That night, they danced, they hugged, they cried, they took some selfies. They did it, and they were celebrated for it.  

The graduation ceremony began with a sea of red flooding the field as the graduates entered to take their seats. The crowd roared as proud friends and family cheered on each of their students walking past the stands. 

To get things rolling, graduate Molly Joiner assumed the stage for the welcoming remarks. Joiner began by thanking everyone who had an impact on getting the graduates to this day, for their endless patience, encouragement and for helping them grow not just as students but into the people they have become. 

Joiner extended gratitude to her classmates, as they had braved through every success and failure over the past four years together. 

“Thank you for being the people we've laughed with, cried with, learned from and so much more,” Joiner said. “We leave as people who have learned how to speak up, how to celebrate the wins and how to bounce back when things don’t go our way.”

Joiner highlighted that one thing SCHS Class of 2025 can take with them is perseverance. Their ability to keep going even when life becomes confusing or difficult. This was their prominent word of the evening. 

Taking the stage directly after Joiner was Salutatorian Graham Rains with a sentimental speech on his journey to graduation.

“Tonight we gather to recognize not just a moment in time, but a journey filled with memories, challenges, victories and growth,” Rains said. “Together we stand as one family, one class, ready for what’s next.”  

Rains offered some background on his struggles growing up with a rare medical condition, giving the audience a glimpse into his life and the boldness it took to keep moving forward. He offered words of encouragement to his peers about what it took to get them to this great success and the things they had to persevere to make it there. 

“We are stronger than the obstacles we face, and we are greater than the fears we feel,” Rains said. “Celebrating the end of one journey and the beginning of another…it’s about recognizing the strength it took to get here and about honoring the people who walked with us.” 

Although each student graduating that night had a different story to tell, they all had one thing in common: They never gave up. When life did not go as planned, the students persevered and chose to fight for this day that they had dreamed of for so long. 

Next up to the podium was the senior class’ top student, Valedictorian Claire Ray, who began her speech by reminiscing on where the class began freshman year to where they are now as graduates. 

Ray spoke humbly about the courage and determination that brought this class their success. She implored her fellow graduates to keep pushing themselves and working hard because that is the determining factor for how far they will go in life. 

Ray left her classmates with one simple statement to reflect on. 

“I want to give you advice from these six words: Life is what you make it,” Ray said. 

Following Ray, Principal Ted Armstrong made his address to the Class of 2025. 

After thanking the families of the graduates for entrusting them to care for their students each day, Armstrong addressed the class directly, having them take a moment to soak in their success and look around at all the faces that are here to celebrate with them. 

Armstrong delighted in the group’s excellence, listing all of their collective academic and athletic successes. 

“Through the highs and lows, you have not only survived, you have persevered and thrived,” Armstrong said. 

Collectively, the class took 83 AP courses, 327 Dual Enrollment courses and received over $90,000 in scholarships.

Before turning the mic over to Interim Superintendent Jennifer Chatham, Armstrong left the Class of 2025 with four suggestions: To not forget where they came from, to slow down and enjoy the moment, to continue to work hard and persevere and finally, to remember to do the right thing just because it is the right thing. 

“We love you, we will miss you, and remember: Once a Redskin, always a Redskin” Armstrong said.

Overall, the ceremony was a simple one, but one filled with lots of heart and a lot of hope for the future. The students each accepted their diplomas from Chatham and finally turned their tassels to the left, signifying their academic achievement. 

To close, everyone stood for the alma mater, led by the SCHS band, and some closing remarks by graduate Gary White. The newest alumni came together in a final moment as a class to toss their caps in celebration.

Then, they walked off the field not as high school students but as adults ready for their next chapter.