By Liz Andrews, Secondary Principal
On Saturday May 30th, we recognised the Class of 2026 at their graduation ceremony. This vibrant group of young people were our fifty fourth graduating class. The student speakers captured the spirit of what it means to be part of YIS. The first two student speakers, Lavanya and Jingyi, crafted an endearing journey of themselves as seeds, at first afraid to push through dark soil, then realising there is light, possibility, an ecosystem of water, sun, nutrients … parents, friends, teachers and school to help them thrive. They “found out what we were truly capable of … and this is only because we didn’t grow in isolation. It took an incredible network of support around us to help us get through every step of the way.” Their final piece of advice: “When your dreams feel too big, remember what you’re capable of. Because you were never buried, you were planted.“
Lewis and Jake later shared their thoughts for the Gift from the Class of 2026. After considering previous gifts they decided that “instead of looking for an object, we decided to look for special moments instead. We asked ourselves: when did our grade feel the most united? Not just within friend groups, but as a whole, where we’ve made connections with people we don’t always spend time with.” This recognition of the value of shared experiences reflects the strong sense of community in this grade, and their gift of a foosball table reflects the joy in play that is so important for young and old alike.
Ms Marschall reflected on one of our key beliefs at YIS: that every space is a learning space. She extended this into both tangible and intangible spaces. The places we go and the experiences we have – they are all possibilities to learn, to grow. She reminded us that “life isn’t just what it is… it is what we make of it. So travel, try new things, meet new people, be curious, and open yourself up to the possibilities around you. Know that we are eagerly waiting to hear your stories, to listen to your learning when you come back to visit us”
The Class of 2026 reflects YIS as a long term community who also welcomes new arrivals; from the six graduates who have been at YIS since ELC to the eleven who joined in Grade 11 or 12. It is also reflected in the 24 different nationalities, and 14 different languages. This diversity brings experiences, perspectives, beliefs and values from around the world to enrich and extend our YIS community.
As the Class of 2026 now steps out into the world they also join our YIS alumni community and move from the dragons in Honmoku to the dragons spread around the world. Our YIS alumni representatives welcomed them to the alumni community on their last day of classes in April. We wish them all the best and look forward to staying in touch whether here in Japan or elsewhere; remember: once a dragon, always a dragon.