Graduation is a significant milestone in a young person’s life. It is the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.

We at The Covington News are blessed to have two interns who will participate in the local graduation ceremonies next weekend. These two students came to us through work-based learning opportunities and interests in the journalism field. We decided, this week, to let them tell you their point of view on graduation.

Congratulations, Class of 2017. We celebrate you in your journey to the next chapter.

Lily Mayfield, Eastside High School:

When we graduated from kindergarten, it was the end of a lot of things, the end of clinging to our mother’s leg as she dropped us off at school or eating Play-Doh and sticking Crayons up our noses. It was the end of running around in the classroom and the end of nap time. We were told that we needed to be big boys and girls as we began our elementary school career; growing up was unpredictable and frightening.

As we graduate from high school, it is the end of lockers lining the hallways and gum under the desks. It is the end of football games and prom, the end of hanging out in the parking lot after school, and the end of 50-minute class schedule. The thought of growing up is still full of uncertainties and concerns but it is also full of hope and excitement.

Although we face many endings, graduation is also the beginning of many exciting endeavors. The start of college or a new job, moving away and becoming “real” adults. The beginning of new friendships and new adventures. The first time we are going to face the world on our own.  It is the beginning of the rest of our lives. Growing up is not a fearful thing, it is exciting and full of new possibilities.

Tyler Williams, Alcovy High School:

This is it. After so many years of laughs, tears, stress and memories both good and bad, this is it. It is a surreal moment to me thinking about walking across that stage and receiving the diploma that I put thousands of hours into receiving. As a sixth grader, I would count the days before certain life milestones that were quickly approaching, such as entering high school, receiving my license and a car or entering senior year, etc. Through those next six or seven years, there a lot of highs and lows, but I wouldn’t change a thing, because I believe everything that happened was for a reason, and it made me into the person I am today.

What’s next for me? I plan to stay local for a few years in school while being blessed with opportunities in the community such as working with The Covington News to gain experience in the very field of sports journalism that I to make a career out of.

It’ll be interesting to see where the rest of the students in the class of 2017 end up. Some were friends of mine that I may never see again, while some are friends that I will remain connected with. No matter where this journey of life takes all of us, I will never forget the memories I have made with those peers and will cherish every single one of them for the rest of my life.