The Lawrence High School (LHS) Class of 2025 came together one last time at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton for graduation on June 24, marking childhood’s end for the 321 seniors.
The seniors gathered underneath the main floor of the arena, waiting for the signal to walk out onto the arena floor. Some fidgeted with their mortarboard caps, while others snapped selfies with friends.
Following tradition at LHS graduation ceremonies, the Trenton Ancient Order of the Hibernians Pipe Band led the way into the arena.
As “Pomp and Circumstance” played, the seniors walked purposely onto the court. Their faces showed a range of emotions – from shy and bewildered, to big smiles and enthusiastic waves to family and friends in the stands.
Senior Class President Fatima Gobah welcomed her classmates, friends and family.
“I’m not here to bring emotions or start waterworks,” she said. “I’m here to bring you all joy while reminding you of the remarkable four years that we all shared together, as well as the aspirations for our future as a whole.”
As freshmen, they felt overwhelmed by the size of LHS, she said. They navigated the hallways, figured out their complex schedules and made many friendships along the way.
Throughout their four years at LHS, the class learned valuable lessons inside and outside of the classroom. They learned to work collaboratively – whether it was on group assignments or individual assignments, she said.
Society is grappling with deep divisions, and as they embark on their individual journeys, the classmates should remember that their collective strength lies within their unity, Gobah said.
LHS Principal David Adam reminded the soon-to-be-graduates that their time in high school was never just about test scores, grades, sports or activities. It was about the strength, resilience and courage they developed as they faced unexpected challenges.
“Each step prepared you not just for graduation, but for life,” he said. Remember, life will not always follow your plan and not everything will come easy. What defines you is your willingness to keep moving forward, one step at a time.”
What the world needs is individuals who lead with empathy, who meet challenges with courage and who choose kindness, even when it is not the easy path, he said. Focusing on kindness will make the community a better place for all.
“You are part of the LHS community and we are excited to see where your journey takes you and what future you will create,” Adam said. “Learn something new, make a new friend, remember to have fun along the way and don’t forget to enjoy the ride every single day.”
Class Salutatorian Purba Karmaker told her classmates that by the end of her speech, they will have blinked their eyes 75 times. It’s like 75 minutes they will never get back, just like their time in high school.
“It doesn’t matter if you loved or hated the last four years, because our time is officially up and we can only look ahead from here,” Karmaker said.
“It’s easy to get caught up in all of the ‘lasts’ – the last time we submitted an assignment on Google Classroom, or walked to class on autopilot. But what matters more is what comes next. Moving on is a privilege. We get to grow, to change, to walk into new hallways and create new routines.
“We are here at the beginning of the rest of our lives. I wish you all the very best in whatever you choose to do – just as long as you do it,” she said.
Valedictorian Rohan Rao said that looking back over the past four years, the most important lesson learned was that growth did not always come in straight lines. Growth came in the risks and challenges that the class faced, and the courage they found in themselves.
It may be counter-intuitive, but the other lesson learned was to be a loser – not in the sense of being a failure, but in losing the need to chase what appears to be the successful lifestyles projected by social media feeds and college rankings, he said.
Chasing status or checking boxes may not make people happier, Rao said. There is no Forbes list of the happiest people on earth, but if it did exist, it would likely be ordinary people who chase a kind of success that goes beyond vanity and applause.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim high in the traditional sense, but don’t mistake wealth or influence for fulfillment,” Rao said. “Don’t confuse visibility with value. Maximize your positive impact – not just on the world, but on the people around you.
“So go out there and lose your fear of failure, lose the script and lose everything that isn’t you. Maybe in all that ‘losing,’ you will end up with winning something far more valuable.”
School board president Michele Bowes said graduation remarks typically focus on grit and perseverance. But there is another kind of grit – the one that says quitting is okay because maybe that dream “really isn’t yours, but a dream that someone else had for you.”
“How do you decide when to quit and when to grit?” Bowes asked. “Listen to your gut. Your future is not defined by sticking to a script that was written for you, but by writing that script yourself.”
Superintendent of Schools Robyn Klim said the road ahead may not be fully mapped out, but the potential of the LHS Class of 2025 is limitless. There is a world of opportunity waiting for them.
The Lawrence Township Public Schools is connected by experiences and united by shared values, genuine care for one another and a collective belief in what is to come. It is a community of learners and doers, Klim said.
“This is us,” she said. “So take the lessons, the laughter, the memories and go make your mark. The world needs your voices, your ideas and your light more than ever.”
Then, one by one, the members of the LHS Class of 2025 lined up and walked across the stage to pick up their diplomas and a handshake from Adam, Klim and Bowes – and a fist bump from popular LHS School Resource Officer Steve Austin as they walked down the steps to the main floor.
After the last senior had received a diploma and was seated, Adam asked the class to rise. Gobah, the class president, led her classmates in moving the tassel on their mortarboard caps from right to left, signaling their graduation.
A sea of red caps filled the air as the seniors tossed them skyward, and the LHS Class of 2025 moved on to their next chapter.
The 321 seniors of Lawrence High School (LHS) Class of 2025 came together one last time at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton for graduation on June 24.
