As junior class president, one of my responsibilities is serving as the class marshal during the graduation ceremony. While I had attended graduations before as a spectator, this year I had the opportunity to experience the ceremony from a completely different perspective—on stage.

During the weeks leading up to graduation, I was both nervous and excited about fulfilling this role. Being class marshal involves more than it might initially seem. I had to attend both dress rehearsals to learn the timing and cues, and I was responsible for helping guide the ceremony by signaling when the senior class should stand or sit. In addition, I assisted each row of graduates as they went up to receive their diplomas.

Although the responsibilities may seem small, they were honestly very daunting because I knew I played an important role in keeping the ceremony running smoothly. Standing in front of hundreds of students, families, faculty members, and community members was intimidating at first, but it quickly became an empowering and uplifting experience that I was able to take part in.

For me, one of the most memorable parts of the event was being able to watch the graduates from the stage (I literally had the best view ever!). From my position, I could see the excitement on their faces, the pride of their family members in the audience, and the emotions that filled the room throughout the ceremony. The moment that stood out the most was watching the graduates move their tassels and officially become Minnechaug alumni. Seeing their smiles and hearing the cheers from across the room was incredible.

Serving as class marshal also gave me a new perspective on my own high school career. Standing on stage in a graduation gown made me realize just how close I am to reaching that milestone myself. Graduation has always felt so far away, but that night it felt like I could reach it with my fingertips.