Graduates from Agassiz Elementary Secondary School (AESS) celebrated the end of their secondary school careers on Friday, June 7.
Following a welcome song from the Sts'ailes people, dignitaries from the local municipalities and First Nations communities wished the graduates all the best as they move on to the next stage in their lives.
Former Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Ed Wood told the graduates to prioritize their happiness when selecting their next move.
"Be happy in what you do. If you're not happy, find something different and move on," Wood said. "Happiness is the most important part of life."
Kent Coun. Kerstin Schwichtenberg is, herself, and alumna of AESS.
"I'm proud of your accomplishments, and I know the future is in great hands," she said. "You're surrounded by people who want to help you succeed: your parents, your colleagues, your teachers. If things don't go according to plan, take a deep breath, regroup and try again."
Superintendent Dr. Balan Moorthy encouraged the students to exercise critical thinking, especially with the rise of misinformation and disinformation on the internet.
"It seems like whoever screams the loudest believes that they are right," he said. "You need to take in all sorts of information from all sorts of places and then you need to determine what is true, what is valid and come and make an opinion for yourself."
