Good morning everyone. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Erin Tolles, and I am the President of the Class of 2020. This year has been a rollercoaster to say the least, but we made it. Today is a day of celebration, so congratulations!

Four years ago, we walked into the building for the first time like lost puppies. We didn’t know to turn right or left, we didn’t know where our classes were, or that no one really uses their lockers. We spent a lot of time that first week nervously spinning our combinations to tuck away books in our lockers, that we would shortly abandon. We knew a few faces from middle school or elementary school, but it took a few years for us to really find ourselves. Ledyard gave us the opportunity to do just that. Whether it was scoring the winning goal on the soccer field, or hanging out with the donkeys during lunch, singing center stage, or finally getting the right touch to finish the painting you’ve been working on, Ledyard has helped us along the way.

As any class, we have changed through the years, starting as little freshmen and growing into the strong individuals we are today. However, the Class of 2020 is a bit different, because we had an extra push to grow up. When school closed way back on March 13th, none of us expected it to turn into what it did. However, even through all of the bad, there was some good that came from it. First of all, we didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn every day. It also gave us a sense of what the future might be like. For example, we couldn’t see our childhood friends in class everyday. We also had to learn how to learn on our own. There was no teacher standing over our shoulder and making sure we were doing the work that we needed to be. We didn’t have anyone to hold our hands anymore. We had ourselves. We had to stay on top of our work, and make sure we got it in on time. It was a big change for all of us, but we came out stronger, and we came out as independent young adults. This closure was a new experience, and it made us grow up faster than normal. And even though we were separated through this time, Ledyard High School remained a strong community.

It’s the little things, like “Adopt a senior,” or the sign fairy, or the way our teachers check in with us during a weekly Zoom call, that make me realize just how strong we are as a community. We are 12 towns with 1 identity, and although our senior year looks a little different than we expected, we made it. Today we celebrate the accomplishments of every member of the Class of 2020. On the sports field, in the art room, on the stage or in the barn, we are one strong class, and to each and every one of you, I say congratulations.

(Erin Tolles is the President of the Class of 2020.)