Grad ceremonies should be savored

Congratulations, graduates. And there are so many of you. With nine high schools in Carlton County, there are nine graduation ceremonies to attend.

Barnum and Esko both hold their ceremonies tonight, May 31.

Wrenshall, Carlton, Cromwell-Wright, Fond du Lac and Cloquet all held ceremonies last Friday, May 24.

Moose Lake matriculated its students last Sunday, May 26, in an afternoon ceremony and the Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program held its graduation program the afternoon of May 23.

In our view, attending a graduation ceremony brings closure and celebration to the graduating students, their parents, family and friends. It’s an important rite of passage, and — judging by the excitement shown by this year’s seniors — they agree with us.

But being in a small county like we are, having so many schools hold their graduation ceremonies on the same day makes it nearly impossible for those of us with loved ones in different schools to attend each graduation. We know at least one grandmother who had to choose between ceremonies at Wrenshall or Carlton, where she had grandsons graduate Friday.

Even worse, the students themselves are unable to attend their friends’ ceremonies if the graduations are held at the same time. This is not an unusual: students who have been competing against each other for many years often develop friendships across school district boundaries.

It would be nice if schools would talk to each other and arrange to stagger graduation ceremonies so everyone who wants to attend is able to — from folks with younger relatives in different schools to the Carlton boy dating a Wrenshall girl to that Esko athlete who’s befriended the Cloquet soccer player she’s played against since grade school. With staggered graduation dates, everyone will have a chance to watch their graduates receive their diplomas.

But foremost: congratulations, graduates.