The Class of 2023 prevailed and these letters from their parents are filled with pride
Members of The Class of 2023 had their high school experience irreparably altered their freshman year, when the coronavirus pandemic closed schools and forced students to learn virtually. They endured and overcame the struggles of learning in a foreign and untraditional way, and they missed out on the chance to make the sort of memories that shape a students' first year as high schoolers.
Despite the many unique and universal challenges they experienced, these young adults across Jefferson County persevered and made it to the graduation stage. The pride their loved ones carry is evident in the letters below.
Editor's Note: If you'd like to have your senior honored in this project, please send a letter (400 words max) alongside their childhood photo to kjohnson3@gannett.com.
Ciniya Clack
Ballard High
***
Dear Ciniya,
November 14, 2004 is the day you was born and the day I became the world's best dad. Watching you being born is a memory I will always treasure. I said to myself, she is definitely special and here for a real reason/ I felt like you was chosen to do something great. Since that moment, I have watched you grow and develop so many talents. You have so many gifts and to watch you tap into those gifts has showed me my intuition was right - you are truly special. You were truly chosen to be in this world to make a difference with the many talents and gifts you possess. Your senior year is now over and you have officially graduated from high school. I know you may get apprehensive trying to pick which routes to take in life. My only advice is to choose all the paths that lead to your divine purpose.
I love you!
Love,
Dad
Lauren and Taylor Clark
DuPont Manual High
***
Dear Lauren and Taylor,
When you were both accepted into magnet programs at Manual, I was extremely happy and excited for you. I immediately formed a vision of what your high school years would look like because I had plentiful memories to draw from. After all, your mom Michele and your aunts Suzanne and Caroline had graduated from Manual.
Little did I know that your high school education would be abruptly disrupted in March of your freshman year by a global pandemic that posed an existential threat to people across the globe. That in itself must have been terrifying. You had to take courses over the internet separated from your teachers and classmates. You werien't able to return to Manual’s campus until late in your sophomore year.
Lauren, you found studying the saxophone particularly difficult as you did not have the benefit of practicing and playing with your classmates. You missed out on playing concerts and performing in the marching band. You even had to take required private saxophone lessons through Zoom meetings with your teacher.
Taylor, you were cut off from a visual arts department that rivals some college arts departments. At Manual, students in your magnet study ceramics in their sophomore year, and you lacked the raw materials and access to the kiln that were necessary for creating ceramics. You missed that portion of your fine arts curriculum.
In reaction to all these unusual circumstances, Lauren, you decided to graduate early and work to save money for college during what would have been your last semester in high school. Your job has provided you with valuable experiences in the business world. You have won awards and became a store manager impressing your superiors with your job performance.
Taylor, you have worked a variety of part time jobs gaining valuable experience, while continuing to train for and play field hockey at Manual and on traveling teams in order to be prepared for playing that sport at Queen’s College in North Carolina.
Going through high school during a global health crisis brought you uncertainty and many unexpected challenges. I hope your most unusual high school experience has taught you that you both have the strength and the ability to confront and conquer obstacles that will inevitably crop up in life. Learning that lesson during high school should serve you well during your college years and throughout the rest of your lives.
Love,
Grandma
Howard Gant III
DuPont Manual High
***
Dear Howie,
You are a great athlete who loves football and track but you were on the basketball and bowling teams at Manual as well. You are a good student and a very helpful friend. You are the poster child of resilience and a kind soul. We are so proud of the big and little things about you, including that you received a full football scholarship to Lindsey Wilson and that you have a 3.3GPA.
Keep going Howie, the best is yet to come.
Love,
Mom & Dad
Jarrett Packwood
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Sciences
***
Jarrett,
Two years ago you made the decision to leave your reside school, Atherton High, to attend the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Sciences at Western Kentucky University. You left home at 15 years of age to finish out your junior and senior years. As a mom, this was heartbreaking; however, I knew this was a great opportunity for you and I fully supported you in this journey. We know that eventually our kids will leave home to attend college or move on their own, but I didn't anticipate it happening this early. At Gatton, you were fully supported and surrounded by like-minded students. You had the opportunity to work on research while attending college level classes. You learned to be on your own - to do your own laundry, navigate adolescence and grow as a person. Now you are preparing to pursue a computer science degree at Purdue University. We are incredibly proud of you for your success at school, but more importantly, for your growth as an individual. I have no doubt that you will be successful in your future endeavors.
Expect rejection but overcome it. Expect pain but push through it. You can't have the good without the bad. But always, be kind.
Love,
Mom
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Class of 2023 prevailed and these letters from their parents are filled with pride
