For most high school students, graduation is one of the most important moments we look forward to in our young life. For most of our parents, it’s one of the most important days to come around in our young life as well. COVID-19 has definitely changed the way we do graduations and other big events, not only for high schools, but for family gatherings and other events. But let’s get back to graduation. From being able to sit directly next to our peers to shaking our principles hand to receive our diploma all the way to being able to stand in our cap and gowns next to our parents, siblings, and extended family for that special graduation photo that everyone will remember till the end of time. That sounds pretty great, right? Yea, I think so too. That’s something that everyone thinks about, whether you were young when you thought about it for the first time or maybe this is your first time. This year, however, the class of 2021 will be having a different form of the process. The Anchorage School District has permitted 2 guests per graduate. That’s not too bad, right? Mom and dad sitting on the bleachers, watching you walk that stage sounds fine to most people. But I ask you to think about those students in particular who may have a mom, dad, stepmom, and possibly a stepdad all wanting to see their child walk. I’m asking you to think of split families. I’m sure each person reading this can name at LEAST one person they know with a split family, maybe more. Now that you can think about this idea, whether you come from one of those families or not, I hope you can visualize there’s a decision that is having to be made. And that decision is not being made by our parents. It’s being made by the graduates themselves. That’s a big decision, don’t you think? A decision like this can hurt so many people. Maybe you tell your stepmom and mom that you want them at graduation. What do you think your dad and stepdad may feel? That’s just one variation of the situation. That can cause hurt for years to come, and none of us want to hurt the people we love, especially our parents. So I am asking you to sign this petition so that the graduates of 2021 in the Anchorage School District may be permitted more than 2 guests. Maybe we get 3. Maybe 4. If you don’t have a split family or don’t have to make this decision, I’m asking you to think about your friends, peers, and the rest of your graduating class throughout the district. Yes, it may be a long shot, but maybe if we all come together as one and think about others at this time, maybe this will get farther than we all think.