This high school graduation tassel is more than a keepsake. It symbolizes growing into myself at St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie. The first two years of high school were far from normal. COVID hit halfway through freshman year, and the constant lockdowns made everything feel uncertain. Still, this tassel represents resilience. I kept up with my classes, pushed through challenges, and found pride in doing well even when the world felt upside down.

By junior and senior year, this tassel carried a whole community with it. Student council meetings, cross-country races, track practices, and semesters spent learning and thinking in French shaped my experience. Being in the French Immersion program all four years was difficult, but I passed my DELF exam and became officially bilingual. Graduation marked the close of a chapter filled with growth, friendships, and accomplishments I never expected. This tassel is more than fabric; it is proof that I made it through and came out stronger.