We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Graduation ceremonies are inspiring. They show the kids at their best and project such an optimistic view of the future it can revive hope for the future of mankind, or something along those lines.

Plus, it’s just plain fun to celebrate the end of a dozen years of hard work! Graduations are always a good community event, and it’s too bad more people can’t take part.

There are two sides to every coin, however, and it’s also the case that many kids struggle, academically and otherwise, and don’t get to the finish line. Some do later, through less conventional means of study. It’s a good thing those options are there; they weren’t always, but in Slave Lake, for example, the outreach school is just the right alternative for some students and has its own success stories.

Another positive development in recent years is the program that allows interested high school students to start their trade apprenticeships while still in school. They get high school credit and apprenticeship credit, plus earn some money. It takes a certain kind of focus that not all kids have at that age, but for the right ones, it means when they graduate, they are already well on their way to productive careers.

Then there are the kids who have no plans, other than to get out and see the world. Nothing wrong with that either! It’s said traveling is a great education, and some of our best citizens went that route when they were young and unencumbered by owning stuff, or too many family responsibilities.

There’s a lot of opportunity out there, just waiting to be grabbed. Congratulations to the graduates of 2025. Off you go!