For high school seniors, spring is usually a time of reflection and joy, as they celebrate their accomplishments and prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
This year, however, has been vastly different due to the novel coronavirus. Graduation ceremonies have been held virtually, and gone are the parties and celebrations.
With this in mind, NECN asked seniors to send us their graduation speeches to be shared on air and online.
Bridgeport Military Academy, Conn.
Laysha Valmo Cedeno and Layeska Valmo Cedeno, seniors from Bridgeport Military Academy's 2020 class, deliver virtual graduations speeches.
Manchester Memorial High School, NH
Lela Connors, Evan Deary and Sabrina Kadariya of Manchester Memorial High School deliver graduation speeches.
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Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, Mass.
Jodiah Toney, the valedictorian at Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, delivers a graduation speech.
Oxford High School, Conn.
Colin Speaker, Stephanie McNamara and Jessica Lockwood, seniors at Oxford High School in Connecticut, deliver graduation speeches.
Salem High School, Mass.
Caroline Vozzo, Salem High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech.
Waterbury Arts Magnet School, Conn.
Waterbury Arts Magnet School seniors Janelle Lugo and Kylie Corriveau give their graduation speeches.
Central Falls High School, RI
Tania Acosta, Central Falls High School’s valedictorian gives a graduation speech
Fenway High School, Mass.
Sarah Ramirez, a student ambassador at Fenway High School, delivers a graduation speech
Danbury High School, Conn.
Faith Thomas, Danbury High School’s valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Mansfield High School, Mass.
Avantika Naik and Patrick Yu, Mansfield High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian, deliver graduation speeches
Worcester Technical High School, Mass.
Thanh Henry Nguyen, Isabella Masiello and Candace Agyemang, Worcester Technical High School’s valedictorian, salutatorian and class president, deliver graduation speeches
Hill Regional Career High School, Conn.
Joanna Wypasek and Gabriela Soriano, Hill Regional Career High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian, give graduation speeches
The Gilbert School, Conn.
Sydney Kolosky and Maryellen Marino, The Gilbert School’s valedictorian and salutatorian, give graduation speeches
Maloney High School, Conn.
Alyssa Wodarski, class president and Annelise Montuori, valedictorian and class treasurer, deliver graduation speeches
Mt. Abraham Union High School, Vt.
Carly Counter and Maizy Shepard, Mt. Abraham High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
Excel High School, Mass.
Elda Sapon Ramirez, Excel High School's Valedictorian, gives a graduation speech.
Orville H. Platt High School, Conn.
Sydney Bernier, Anahi Gutierrez and Haley Peacock, Orville H. Platt's High School seniors give graduation speeches
Thomaston High School, Conn.
Emily Root, Thomaston High School valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
West Haven High School, Conn.
Chloe Hummel and Winnie Jiang, West Haven High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
JM Wright Technical High School, Conn.
Annie Garcia, salutatorian at JM Wright Technical High School in Connecticut, delivers a graduation speech.
Winooski High School, Vt.
Maryam Alchaderchi and Kai Daud, seniors at Winooski High School in Vermont, deliver graduation speeches.
Community Academy of Science and Health, Boston
Stacie Bruillant, co-salutatorian at the Community Academy of Science and Health in Boston, delivers a graduation speech.
Manchester Central High School, NH
Raiyan Bayumi, senior class president at Manchester Central High School in New Hampshire, delivers a graduation speech.
Andover High School, Mass.
Ethan Gasse of Andover High School in Massachusetts delivers a graduation speech.
Waterbury Career Academy High School, Conn.
Rudin Lloga, valedictorian at Waterbury Career Academy High School, delivers a graduation speech.
Avon High School, Conn.
Addisen Ganiats, Walden Yan, Ana Hayes, and Michael Hanratty of Avon High School in Connecticut deliver graduation speeches.
Nonnewaug High School, Conn.
Steven LeClerk, Sindy Gorka and Cassandra Barbino, seniors at Nonnewaug High School in Connecticut, deliver graduation speeches.
Masconomet Regional High School, Mass.
Brennan Gerspach, class president at Masconmet Regional High School in Massachusetts, delivers a graduation speech.
Griswold High School, Conn.
Julia Leslie, valedictorian at Griswold High School in Connecticut, delivers a graduation speech.
Lynn English High School, Mass.
Julianna Perry, Adnan Jalal and Tallia Dudley, seniors at Lynn English High School in Massachusetts, deliver graduation speeches.
Rocky Hill High School, Conn.
Mia Aglieco of Rocky Hill High School in Connecticut delivers a graduation speech.
Boston Community Leadership Academy, Mass.
Christopher Suplice, a student leader at th Boston Community Leadership Academy, delivers his class' graduation speech.
Ansonia High School, Conn.
Lexi Brinkmann, a senior at Ansonia High School in Connecticut, delivers a graduation speech.
East Haven High School, Conn.
Samantha Schlottman, Kayla Vernon and Amy Nieto of East Haven High School deliver graduation speeches.
Nashoba Valley Regional High School, Mass.
Daniel Dimeo and Walter Stadolnik of Nashoba Valley Regional High School deliver graduation speeches.
Danvers High School, Mass.
Elodie Poussard, Kylie Hills, Michael Mahoney and Madelyn Montanari of Danvers High School deliver graduation speeches.
Kennebunk High School, Maine
Ethan Eickmann and Mia Banglmaier, Kennebunk High School's valedictorian and salutatorian, give graduation speeches.
Bassick High School, Conn.
Gina Garcia, Lalaya Wilson and Karla Castro, Bassick High School Seniors, give graduation speeches
Suffield High School, Conn.
Claudio Santaniello, Gabriella Santaniello and Vansh Patel, Suffield High School Seniors, give graduation speeches
Dedham High School, Mass.
Megan Elizabeth Bondar, Joseph Patrick Dooley and Maren Frances Raposo, Dedham High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Stonington High School, Conn.
Kaira Suzanne Wiltshire and Hanna Li Hong, Stonington High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Crosby High School, Conn.
Kejsi Ozuni, Crosby High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Smithfield High School, RI.
Caitlin Bessette, Serena Roy and Tim Ferron, Smithfield High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
Terryville High School, Conn.
Jacob Zappone and Julia Zaniewski, Terryville High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
Robert E. Fitch High School, Conn.
Graysen Scherer, William Miner, Finn Koehler, Ava Poprocki
Northwestern Regional High School, Conn.
Victoria Duffy
Lawrence High School, Mass.
Jesus Guzman, Arianny Acosta
Windsor High School, Conn.
Anye Miller and Jagteshwar Singh, Windsor High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Beverly High School, Mass.
Miranda Healy, Beverly High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Kennett High School, NH
Phoebe Lyons and Grace Jarell, Kennett High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
Information Technology High School, Conn.
Imani Lopez, Information Technology High School's salutatorian, delivers a graduation speech
Westport High School, Mass.
Adam Michael Charest, Westport High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Common Ground High School, Conn.
Brandi Ocasio, Evann Meyers and Noor Fahdil, Common Ground High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches.
St. John's Prep, Mass.
Mitchell Robson and Andrew Bouchie, St. John's Prep valedictorians, give graduation speeches
The Sound School, Conn.
Brianna Lane, senior at The Sound School, gives a graduation speech
Medway High School, Mass.
Daniel Labbe, Medway High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
South Windsor High School, Conn.
Van Anh Tran and Elizabeth Malone, South Windsor High School's valedictorian and salutatorian, deliver graduation speeches
Minuteman High School, Mass.
Rouaa Alwaz, Jack Ryan and Kameryn Montimes, Minuteman High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Seymour High School, Conn.
Ashley Sirowich, Seymour High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Warren Harding High School, Conn.
Monte'eria Ahtaisha Dukes and Brenda Cazales, Warren Harding High School's salutatorian and valedictorian, deliver graduation speeches
Explorations Charter School, Conn.
John Milczanowski, Explorations Charter School's salutatorian, gives a graduation speech
Brookline High School, Mass.
Zach Allen, Brookline High School senior, delivers a graduation speech
W.F. Kaynor Technical High School, Conn.
Jocelyn Pineda, W.F. Kaynor Technical High School senior, gives a graduation speech
Westford Academy, Mass.
Grace Pu and Isabella Xu, Westford Academy's valedictorians, give graduation speeches
Enfield High School, Conn.
Sean Suleski, Enfield High School's valedictorian, gives a graduation speech
Arvind Kasiliya and Angelina Delgado, Enfield High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Conval Regional High School, NH
Casey Jordan, Mather Kipka and Jadyn Vaidya, Conval Regional High School seniors, deliver graduation speeches
Rockport High School, Mass.
Nathaniel Kirby, Charlie Prentiss and Evelyn Merz, Rockport High School seniors, give graduation speeches
Putnam High School, Conn.
Molly Mckeon and Ellie Morissette, Putnam High School's co-valedictorians, deliver graduation speeches
Ledyard High School, Conn.
Erin Tolles, Ledyard High School senior, gives a graduation speech
