photo by Steve VanGunda

Alexandra Atkinson helps her friend Malori Byrd wipe away a tear before Sunday’s graduation of the seniors from Trinity Episcopal Day School.

Trinity graduates march into unknown possibilities

By Adam Koob (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Monday, May 26, 2008

NATCHEZ — Just moments before their high school graduation students from Trinity Episcopal Day School’s 2008 class were sequestered in a hallway nearly every face showed a mix of happiness and anxiety.

Moments later with dark robes and glowing faces the soon to be graduates marched into Trinity Episcopal Church — and into their futures.

Sunday’s graduating class of 25 brought out a mass of family and friends that filled the church’s pews and filled the hearts of the graduates with pride and optimism for the future.

The school’s salutatorian, Jinal Patel, said her grandparents traveled from India to attend her graduation.

In Patel’s address to her class she borrowed a quote that liked Saturday’s graduation to the many graduations students will encounter throughout their lives.

“We’ll all have different graduations,” she said of her fellow classmates.

Much of what Patel, and other speakers at Saturday’s graduation, spoke about dealt with the uncertainty and limitless possibility of the future.

Patel said she had no doubt in her classmates’ ability to go out into the world and achieve great success.

Valedictorian Parker Brumfield also spoke about his confidence in his classmates and the bond he formed with them over the years.

Parker said he’d grown so close to classmates that he preferred to be seated with them not alone at the pulpit.

The Rev. Zabron Davis delivered the commencement address.

He said the chance to speak to Trinity’s newest graduates was an overwhelming opportunity.

“Tomorrow will be here before you know it,” he said. “Live completely and fully.”

As Davis’ address ended students prepared themselves to receive their diplomas and beginning the next part of their lives.

After the ceremony ended the students assembled on the steps of the church to toss their hats in the air and with that began the next chapter.