photo by: Richard Gwin

Bishop Seabury Academy graduates throw their caps in the air during the school's commencement ceremony Friday, May 27, 2016.

When members of the senior class at Bishop Seabury Academy heard that one of their classmates wouldn’t be able to make the school’s commencement ceremony, they decided to do something about it. They organized a graduation celebration for him over their lunch period, complete with the ceremonial cap toss.

That effort was just one example of the bond the class of 2016 shared, and a big part of what it means to be a student at Bishop Seabury, said senior Christina Im in her valedictorian address at the school’s commencement ceremony Friday.

“The look on his face when he threw his hat and we all cheered was priceless,” Im said. “It’s times like those where I will look back on my high school career and say, ‘Wow, I’m lucky to have gone to such a great school.'”

Twenty-eight seniors celebrated their graduation from Bishop Seabury on Friday. Graduates in black robes were joined in the gymnasium by students in lower grades, who all took part in a “stepping up ceremony” to mark the completion of the school year. The private Episcopal school serves about 200 students in grades six through 12.

Like Im, senior Rhett Rinehart also recounted the experiences of the close-knit group of students during the six years that they went to school together. In his speech, Rinehart recited a long list of inside jokes that got laughs from his fellow students. Despite those fond memories, he also recognized that over the years all the students have struggled in one way or another, be it with school, work or relationships. He reminded students that after graduation, life will continue on that way: a mix of positive and negative experiences.

“There were times in our lives where all we wanted to do was give up and stop: stop working, stop learning, stop trying,” he said. “…And there are going to be times in the future when bad things happen to us. Life won’t stop throwing things at us because we graduated high school.”

In those moments, Rinehart encouraged his classmates to look for the silver lining and not to give up.

“Those moments when we want to give up are the moments that make us better, they make us stronger,” he said.

The faculty speaker, Arnie Knudson, also told graduates to make the most of their experiences, even if that means changing plans or goals.

“Do what you enjoy and quit what you hate,” Knudson said. “That major you hate probably ends up with you in a job you hate.”

Knudson also reminded the students to appreciate the experience they have had at Bishop Seabury, and recognize that as they head to college, they are fortunate to be doing so.

“You are a well-educated, well-fed, well-clothed and cared-for individual. This puts you in probably 95 percent of all humans in the good luck department,” Knudson said. “…My advice is: be thankful and make the most of it.”