'We were able to persevere.' Keefe Tech grads proud to overcome pandemic challenges
ASHLAND — Making their way across the stage during a picturesque spring evening, members of the Keefe Regional Technical High School Class of 2023 had a lot to remember.
This year's class bore the brunt of COVID-19, abruptly shifting to remote learning at the end of their freshman year, and continuing it for almost all of grade 10 as well. Wednesday's graduation — the Framingham vocational school's 50th — at the Warren Conference Center and Inn was a culmination of their most atypical of high school experiences, and something to be thankful for.
“Today is a special day for all of us," class President Wood-Mylove Joseph told his fellow graduates. "Each and every one of you, including myself, has given more than you knew was possible in order to be here today.”
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Overcoming obstacles brought on by the pandemic was a consistent theme for those who spoke during the ceremony, including salutatorian Talyn LaGrone, who said COVID-19 defined a large portion of their high school careers.
“We had a year and a half where all our learning was all online, can you believe that? Doesn’t that seem like it was just yesterday or that it was a lifetime ago?” LaGrone said. “I’m proud to say we were able to persevere. We began our days at our computer at home, we took learning online but didn’t go anywhere. Some of us struggled to get out of bed, and others… didn’t get out of bed, as many teachers can easily verify.”
Perseverence shown during the pandemic
LaGrone said that as classmates returned to traditional learning during their junior and senior years, they felt they were behind other classes. But they showed perseverance in maintaining a strong performance in the classroom and through extracurricular activities.
“We may have felt like we were behind other junior and senior classes, but here we are," LaGrone said. "In spite of all the challenges we have faced, we did our best and moved forward, even with the disadvantages of virtual classes and even with the pandemic looming over our heads."
While much of the focus during the pandemic was placed on what students were missing, Sarah Commerford, vice chair of the South Middlesex Regional Technical School District School Committee, said in her address to students that the skills they’ve developed during the pandemic will be greatly beneficial to their future education.
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“You are coming to the end of a unique high school experience that began and ended with all of you together," Commerford said. "In between, we faced challenges that we never wished for you. These challenges, which include dealing with loss, disappointment and the need to make frequent adjustments, taught you to persevere and to be flexible in your approach. These are important skills for the road ahead."
As a vocational school, many Keefe Tech graduates will head right into the professional workforce. Commerford noted that the demand for their skills has never been greater, and the lessons they’ve learned over the last four years have never been more valuable.
“You are going into a job market where there is incredible demand for the skills you offer," she said. "There is also an incredible need for what we have done together — to build a community of respect, where we are receptive and supportive to people of other backgrounds and perspectives."
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Keefe Tech graduates reflect on pandemic-shaped high school years
