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From Zoom classes to graduation: It’s a full circle moment for class of ’23



The class of 2023, which graduates across the region this spring, experienced a unique and often challenging high school experience, beginning their high school careers with Zoom classes, social distancing and mask mandates. Pixabay image

Students starting high school in 2019 may have expected a normal freshman year. By the second half of that school year in 2020, a “normal” freshman year became a thing of the past.

Students were thrown into remote learning in March 2020, with the fears and threats from COVID-19 constantly looming. The class of 2023, which graduates across the region this spring, experienced a unique and often challenging high school experience, beginning their high school careers with Zoom classes, social distancing and mask mandates.



They’ve come full circle, as May 11 marked the expiration of the federal Public Health Emergency declared during the pandemic. COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, of course, but the ability to have in-person graduation ceremonies shows how much life has changed for the class of 2023.

Some graduations have already occurred.

— Knightdale High School seniors walked across the stage Tuesday, May 23 at Reynolds Coliseum at N.C. State University. 

— Graduates from North Wake College and Career Academy earned their high school degrees, and in some cases also earned college credits and certificates from Wake Technical Community College, Wednesday, May 24. 

Scott Ralls, president of Wake Tech, served as a special speaker for the North Wake graduates. He talked about the differences between happiness and joy, as originally noted by commentator David Brooks.

Happiness can be found in personal achievement, though joy can be found in celebrating others, Ralls said.

“Today we celebrate you,” Ralls said. “And you bring us great joy. And so, my wish for you is that throughout your lives you find happiness, but you also always find joy.” 

Ralls talked about the difference between resume virtues and eulogy virtues. A resume virtue might be an individual accomplishment, like a graduation, but a eulogy virtue is how someone is remembered. 

“At the end of the day, when the last speech is given about you, those (resume virtues) won’t be the things that will be noticed,” Ralls said. “It’s the eulogy virtues: whether you were kind, whether you were a friend, whether you helped build something in your community, whether you were a part of something larger than yourself.”

Ralls earned a bachelor’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and master’s and doctoral degrees in Industrial and Organization Psychology from the University of Maryland. He is a recipient of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor for a North Carolinian. Ralls has also won the Distinguished Public Service Award from the N.C. Chamber. 

Upcoming graduation ceremonies:

— Wake Preparatory Academy: Wednesday June 7, 7 p.m., Louisburg College

— Rolesville High School: Saturday, June 10, 8 a.m., Raleigh Convention Center

— Louisburg High School: Monday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.

— Heritage High School: Tuesday, June 13, 8 a.m., Raleigh Convention Center

— Wake Forest High School: Tuesday, June 13, noon, Raleigh Convention Center

— Bunn High School: Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m.

— East Wake High School: Wednesday, June 14, 4 p.m., Raleigh Convention Center