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With graduation season in full bloom across the area, high school graduates’ time as caterpillars is slowly dwindling and their wings are preparing for flight.

To commemorate the Class of 2022, we were proud to publish a special section last week featuring graduates from Lakeland High, King’s Fork High, Nansemond River High, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk Christian Academy and Isle of Wight Academy.

While the annual edition — which entails gathering hundreds of names and photos provided by the schools — is a huge undertaking for us, high school graduation is quite a milestone in a young person’s life and we are honored to celebrate their accomplishments.

Nansemond-Suffolk and Suffolk Christian had their commencement ceremonies in late May. Suffolk public school grads will get their diplomas this weekend. We’ve been inspired by reporter Jimmy LaRoue’s profiles of the valedictorians for each school. What a smart, talented, motivated group of young people.

As the graduates convene one last time as a class before heading down their separate chosen paths, it is our hope that they cherish and relish the moment and reflect back on the 12-plus years it took to reach this achievement.

Late-night cramming sessions. SAT prep classes. Elementary school recess. Boring driver’s education videos. Exciting victories on the basketball court. Stunning defeats on the baseball diamond. Flunked classes. Spelling bees. Spring musicals. Book reports. Gym class. Pop quizzes.

And then there was COVID-19 to disrupt much of their high school years, robbing them of time-honored traditions.

Every failure and success has brought them to this point. As they walk across the stage to accept their diplomas, one chapter of their lives concludes. We wish them the best in all their future endeavors, as they begin the next chapter in their story.

The graduates will soon find out the difference between school and life. In school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022.