HADLEY — Friendships made by the 39 Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School graduates during their time at the Hadley school should ease the transition to the next stage in their life journeys.
“The world is a very scary place right now,” senior William Tuttle said as he addressed his peers during graduation exercises Friday afternoon at the Young Men’s Club pavilion. “I’m personally very nervous.”
Yet Tuttle is also confident because of the connections he has built.
“I’m not going out in the world alone, but I’m going out into the world with all these loving people,” Tuttle said.
The theme of how close the seniors are carried through the address by fellow senior Aine Doherty, who said the students will always be there for each other, whether they arrived, as she had, as a kindergartner, or come in middle school or during high school.
“The hardest part of online learning was being away from friends for so long,” Doherty said, who reflected on when the playground was a pile of dirt and children twice broke their fingers while smashing rocks.
“I am looking forward to seeing what you all become when we are apart, and I have no doubt you will become utterly amazing,” Doherty said.
Kathy Wang, the school’s principal, began by addressing the skills for adapting and confronting fears and isolation.
She said the lessons imparted at the school include giving support to others, asking for help when needed and building community, and she is confident the newest graduates will take those from school as they continue to grow.
“My point for all of you: You have all grown while you’re here,” Wang said.
The sixth annual commencement exercises recognized the school’s largest class yet — and one that was able to experience all learning together at the Route 9 campus this academic year.
“We were glad to have you all back in person, in the flesh, in 3D, because we wanted to make it as normal a year as possible,” Wang said.
“Soar like an eagle,” said Cynthia Farmer, a member of the school’s trustees. “Basically that’s all that can be said.”
Farmer then had the graduates rise to their feet and turn around to applaud their loved ones.
Before entering the pavilion, graduates and their families gathered in groups for photographs on the lawn and under the trees.
“The community here is amazing and it will be sad to leave these people,” said Juliet Scott of Holyoke, who has spent her entire 13-year academic career at PVCICS.
