‘Beginning of our lives’: Bedford Road students celebrate graduation

Grade 12 students at Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon walked across the stage this week at Merlis Belsher place feeling pride, joy, relief, and excitement about their future.

The accomplishment of graduating also comes with a touch of nostalgia as students look back at their hard work.

Graduation has been long awaited by Jillian Ronquillo, who didn’t experience her Grade 8 graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“(I) had an online graduation, but I know many of my peers didn’t get one at all,” she said. “It’s our first graduation, and we’re all very excited and very nervous.”

Ronquillo added that she was worried about once again missing out on the grad experience due to uncertainty around sanctions by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. Both parties agreed to binding arbitration earlier this month, bringing an end to the teachers’ sanctions.

“We were talking about whether or not we were going to have graduation in our school gym during lunch,” she said. “I think everyone’s incredibly grateful.”

Now, Ronquillo is ready to embrace all that lies ahead after high school.

“This is just the beginning of our lives, guys,” she said to her friends. “We’re just becoming adults. We have so many things to be doing in our lives.”

Kiefer Hendry, another graduate, echoed that statement.

“It feels amazing. It’s going to be such a great day,” Hendry said.

“I’m so excited for everything (and) to see all these people I grew up with.”

Hendry said it was unfortunate when he also missed his Grade 8 graduation due to the pandemic, but he’s excited to experience graduation now, and looks forward to his friend’s valedictory address.

Gurseerat Sandhu, Bedford Road’s valedictorian, said her message is to never let success go to your head, and never let failure go to your heart. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Gurseerat Sandhu, Bedford Road’s valedictorian, said the theme of her speech is benevolence.

“I feel like throughout my years at Bedford I’ve not just focused on myself, but the people around me,” she said.

Sandhu said she’s excited about her accomplishments, but is feeling nervous about university where she wants to study medicine.

She said her message to fellow students is to “never take success to your head, and failure to your heart.”