By Beacon Staff
With the sun in their eyes, an uncertain but exciting future ahead of them, the West Burlington High School graduating class of 2021 moved onto the next phase of their lives Sunday afternoon (May 23).
The graduates claimed their diplomas on an outdoor stage on the school’s football field, seeming unaffected by the high humidity.
Lizzy Grobstich, 18, felt a bit stunned after the ceremony. She made the rounds through the large crowd after turning her tassel toward the future, doling out hugs to all who came to support her. Like a lot of her classmates, she already knows what’s next.
“I’m going to SCC for two years and going into criminal justice,” she said. “I’ve just always had a thing for helping people.”
It was the present moment — the one she had dreamed of since childhood — that seemed far more surreal.
“It feels good. Weird. It feels unrealistic, honestly, but a lot has happened,” she said.
Grobstich was referring to the ever-present specter of COVID-19 that forced students into partial online learning this year and last. It’s been a while since a graduating class has had a normal year.
“It was crazy,” Grobstich said. “I couldn’t have done it without a better group of people. We did it together. We made our own happiness out of it.”
Graduating senior Antonia Cherry, 18, is done with school. She’s heading up north to ply a trade she has dreamed of since childhood.
“I want to own my own clothing business. My aunt, who lives in Minnesota, is going to help me with that. She designs clothes,” she said.
Annika Harris, Shelby Ryan, and Hunter Miller were all recognized as valedictorians. Ryan also delivered the senior address alongside Ilianna Murphy.
“We came to school, day in, day out, whether it was virtual, in-person, or hybrid. And we all grew together for years. Now, this may be the very last time we see each other,” they said during the speech.
Photos by William Smith
