ADAMS, Mass. — Among the things that Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School senior Lilianna Choque was thankful for on Saturday was the fact that she knows all her classmates.

 

"In preparation for today, I have read and watched a lot of other graduation speeches," Choque said during her "senior reflection" at the school's graduation exercises. "All of them, without fail, had some version of the same throwaway line: 'Although I don't know all of my classmates,' or, 'Some of you may not know me.'

 

"But the beautiful thing about a graduating class of 32 is that that doesn't apply. I do know all of you … quite well."

 

And, Choque said, she likes what she knows.

 

"Maybe the rumors are true, and we are the weird kids," she said. "But — and you have to forgive me, because I'm going to invoke the right I've been given as a BArT student to be a little cringe here — I'm so grateful to be weird with all of you."

 

Choque was not the only one to extoll the virtues of what she called her "32-ring circle of friends," and she was not the only one to talk about the kindness exhibited by the Class of '26.

 

Head of School Jonathan Igoe set that tone in his opening remarks.

 

"One thing that stands out to me above all else with this particular group is their extraordinary kindness," Igoe said. "They brighten our days when they arrive at school in the morning and throughout the day with their genuine and thoughtful presence.

 

"Our seniors interact more with the wider community than any other group, and, in many ways, they have become true ambassadors for BArT. We have seen them shine in many impressive roles: as leaders and scholars, as athletes, as actors, artists and performers right here in this room, at Mass MoCA and at the Adams Theater and beyond."

 

English language arts teacher Kelli Newby talked about how introspective the graduates are in her commencement address.

 

"They also wrote deeply reflective portfolios full of insight that take a lot of people a decade of therapy to figure out," Newby said to chuckles from the crowd packed into the school's gymnasium. "Things like, 'Whenever you find yourself withdrawing from others, instead of receding, you should take the giant, scary step of connecting with the community instead.'

 

"Several of you wrote about how you learned that lesson in eighth or ninth grade, but then, when the stress of senior year set in, you felt yourself isolating again. But here's the special part: These students realized what they were doing, signed themselves up for theater or sports or whatever and then had a great senior year, full of fun and friends."

 

Sometimes, the fun can be a little over the top.

 

Principal Joe Huston began his address by relating the recent senior prank, perpetrated on the night of a lock-in at the school, when the members of the Class of '26 broke into his office and gift-wrapped every item they could get their hands on for him to find the next morning when he showed up for work.

 

But Huston quickly pivoted to more serious thoughts about the class.

 

"In addition to your antics, I've seen these seniors in a variety of impressive roles this year," Huston said. "They've been in our community, serving as examples for all of our underclassmen.

 

"I've witnessed these seniors take on challenges. They've taken on Advanced Placement classes. They slayed their college courses. They've made bold decisions about their futures. They've applied to colleges and universities where they felt they had no chance, and, yet, they've been accepted. They've approached recruiters. They've interviewed for jobs they didn't think they'd get and yet they did."

 

"You have already faced hard things and come through on the other side of things."

 

That determination and character will serve the graduates — and society — well in years to come, they were told.

 

"For anyone in the audience, if you are ever worried about the future, if you think the kids are all wrong and Gen Z, and whatever, I would invite you to share just a few moments with [the graduates] and their wisdom," Newby said.

 

The seniors who spoke recognized that their moments together were dwindling as the moment neared when they would each walk across the stage and receive their diploma.

 

Choque encouraged her classmates to follow her lead and take mental snapshots to try to soak in as much of the day as possible.

 

Molly Middlebrook chose a different metaphor in her senior reflection.

 

"It doesn't feel as though we're simply closing a chapter," Middlebrook said. "It feels as though a book is ending — a book filled with characters made up by the people in this school. … A book filled with moments and experiences that shaped the very people we are today. It's a book I rushed through, always trying to get to the end. But, now that I'm here, I find myself wishing there were more pages left to read.

 

"However, this isn't a book we are losing. It is a book we are setting aside, one that will hold memories and lessons for us to come back to whenever we feel lost."

 

Berkshire Arts & Tech class of 2026