Frederick High graduates come out united after turbulent start | Graduation

This year’s class, which had 381 graduates, celebrated a milestone of their academic career Monday morning.

The class of 2023 entered their first year of high school as bright-eyed freshmen, only to face a pandemic that derailed a normal high school experience.

But they got back on track and were ready for the next chapter of their lives.

Class President Aleena Hassen-Friess said in an interview that the semesters with virtual learning had the class miss out on important bonds with their peers.

“It feels like a lot of missed time that we didn’t really get to have,” she said.

But she felt she and her class officers helped make up for that lost time and end the year with everyone united.

Her favorite memory was the senior sunset they had planned, she said. So many seniors showed up, and it was beautiful, she said.

Reggie Snowden said going to high school during the COVID pandemic was a weird experience. Virtual learning was a struggle, and as a football player, he lost a whole season. But now, he was excited that the end was just a few steps away.

“I’m happy that … we’re able to graduate and stuff without having all that mess,” he said.

Keily Orellana Lopez said that when she is faced with a challenge or something that is out of her control, she just keeps going. The graduate moved to the United States from El Salvador toward the end of junior year.

Her high school in El Salvador also felt the effects of the pandemic, and she remembered the difficulty of wearing masks all day, trying to keep her asthma in check. But she and her class persevered.

Whenever a hardship came up “that makes you feel that you weren’t enough,” just respond, “Nevermind,” she said.

In her welcoming speech to the graduating class and the crowd, Orellana Lopez pushed this mindset further. The graduates are still figuring everything out, she said, and they should not stress over everything.

“Take your hands off what you cannot control and get your hands on what you can change. We are too young and inexperienced to judge ourselves too harshly,” she said.

And despite an unorthodox start to their high school careers, class vice president and student speaker Adam Bollinger said during his speech that the class of 2023 had a lot to celebrate. Sports teams excelled, organizations went above and beyond, and clubs made themselves known.

He praised the diversity within the class, which allowed for unique opportunities and proud cultural expression.

“It’s important to remember to be compassionate, empathetic, and especially open minded,” he said. “We must be willing to learn from others and to embrace new experiences. We must work to make a positive impact in the world and become leaders in our communities.”

The graduates will leave many things behind in high school as they advance to the next chapter of their lives, said Frederick County Board of Education member Jason Johnson, a speaker during the ceremony. But he wanted graduates to take at least three things into their future: appreciation, service and passion.

He said he wanted graduates to change the world however they can.

“Be kind to strangers. Find a new way to meet new friends and share what you have. Whether it be time, talent, compassion or resources, we all have something to give,” Johnson said.