COMMENTARY: To the Class of 2026, I was once in your shoes
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
CANTON--To the Class of 2026, I was once in your shoes 25 years ago. Wow. A quarter of a century doesn't seem like a long time ago.
Like you, I too made the ascension from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade in the Canton City School district. Like you, I had my share of educators who molded me all the way from when I was a young child to a high school senior. We all had at some point be it within elementary school or middle school had high school athletes come and chat with us about making the right decisions in life. Some of those we looked up to when we attended their high school games be it Canton McKinley, Massillon, GlenOak, Perry, or wherever in Stark County or anywhere else for that matter.
You remember the days of going to gym class, music class, the library (or LRC), recess, picture day, fire drill, tornado drill, field trips, assemblies and so much more. Along the way you formed friendships that stood the test of time as you matriculated through your school years. You had dreams of who you wanted to be when you grew up. Your parents or whichever family lineage raised you and attended open house, parent-teacher conferences, or even served on respective PTA boards.
Whether it was in athletics or non-athletic activities, you forged your identity that carried you for the next 12 years. And now you have reached the finish line. You always saw family members or friends of family members graduate from high school and attended their parties. Now as a member of the high school class of 2026, you have taken that final ascension to the top.
Congratulations. What a milestone that has been achieved. You did it. You are a high school graduate. You hear your name called and the cheers come out non-stop from those in attendance as you shake the hand of the superintendent and receive your diploma. That is the most gratifying accomplishment by far aside from obtaining your driver's license two years before then.
As the class of 2026 conduct their respective graduation ceremonies, I personally want to take the time to acknowledge all the educators, administrators and coaches for making the senior classes who they are today. Not to be forgotten also in all of that are the educators and administrators of the elementary and middle schools along the way in preparing them for middle school and eventually high school. Much thanks also are in order for the counselors who were there for students in their 12 years of schooling whether it was to discuss an academic matter, family situation, schedule for classes, or a shoulder to cry on in times of grief and sorrow.
After this, you will make the trek into today's world. You will either attend college and work toward a degree of your chosen field of study, enlist in the military of a branch of your choosing, or will simply enter the workforce. Along the way, you will eventually become husbands and wives, raise children, eventually becoming uncles and aunts and for some if they are fortunate to reach the pinnacle of life as grandparents.
It was 25 years ago as a member of the McKinley class of 2001, I became an official graduate of the school whose motto is "Where Champions Are Made And Success Is Tradition." I am sure there will be some kind of reception for that class when that time comes. That may not seem like a long time ago but despite the length of that time, I never forgot those who molded me and encouraged me to become the person I am today. And I still maintain friendships I have well before then with those who I know and love to this day.
To the graduating class of 2026, I was once in your shoes 25 years ago. My congratulations to you on being high school graduates and wish you all the best of success as you official trek into adulthood and life.
Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.
