As the class of 2022 walked onto Alumni Stadium for their final time, seniors welcomed cheers from proud friends and families. Many couldn't hold back the tears during the class of 2022's graduation ceremony. The event finally felt normal.
As sophomores, the class of 2022 experienced historic disruption in March of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take shape in the United States. They endured remote learning and returned to a hybrid approach in their junior year in 2021.
While returning to a new normal during their senior year, students couldn't help but reflect on their experience at Fairhaven High School.
Class 2022 Valedictorian Mindy Zhang reflected, "We've been through a lot the past four years. Every moment we spent here, in a classroom, at a lunch table, on the bus, or on the turf has shaped us into the people we are now."
Superintendent Tara Kohler "Life is not easy. But that's what you can prepare for. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best." and added some advice for the newly graduates. "Take this in. This is a huge accomplishment. Sit in it, enjoy it for a moment, and don't rush to the next thing. You worked hard. Many things have not come easy for everyone, including going through a global pandemic, but you did it."
Principal Andy Kulak sent off the class of 2022 with these words: "For whatever challenges you face in your life – some big, some small – remember to add a little love and kindness to how you meet those challenges. "It will help to restore some pride and dignity and keep the despair at bay."
One hundred forty-nine seniors graduated from Fairhaven High School. Many continue their education at colleges and universities across the country, entering the workforce or enlisting in military branches.
Watch the 2022 Graduation Ceremony