Wakefield High School class of 2017 inside DAR Constitution Hall on June 21. Photo by Vernon Miles.
At most graduations, students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. At Wakefield High School, they dance. Many of the students crossing the stage to get their diplomas did so with a twirl, a salute to the audience, or a dab. One proudly carried a Guatemalan flag with him. Ana Tiernan, a student with special needs, held her degree over her head in celebration after she recieved it to a thunderous standing applause by the audience. At Wakefield High School, graduations are an expression of pride with a personal touch.
“It’s an emotional day,” said Kay Tiernan. Two of her daughters were graduating from Wakefield. Elizabeth Tiernan will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall. Anna Tiernan will be attending the Arlington Career Center to eventually transfer into a program at George Mason University. “My girls had a great experience at Wakefield. [Elizabeth Tiernan] did Spanish immersion and [Anna Tiernan] did cheerleading.”
The graduating class of 2017 also marks the first class to have spent all four years in the new high school building.
“We survived the lack of wifi and broken water fountains,” said Nishita Barua, Senior Class co-president. “This is not a class I need to worry about. The juniors on the other hand .…”
The last graduating class of Arlington Public Schools in 2017 gathered outside the Constitution Hall June 21, meeting with their parents and saying goodbye to their classmates.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Rickeye Hill, attending Northern Virginia Community College and studying journalism. “It didn’t hit me until I was in line to receive my diploma. These four years have been a long journey; a memorable one.”
Hill said one of her favorite memories was a student who spontaneously started dancing in the town hall, the gathering place at Wakefield. Hill said everyone around him stopped and started cheering him on.
“It feels amazing,” said Sarah Vest, attending St. Joseph’s to study English. “I’ve known some of these people for 13 years. It feels like we made it. We’ve been reaching for this.”