'Bittersweet' Experience for Graduates

Bittersweet.

It’s a word that came up a lot Wednesday at the . That’s when 529 students, one by one, walked to the front of the auditorium, and received their diplomas. 

It was a celebration, of course, but also a time for students, parents and teachers to look back…and in some cases, shed a few tears. “I’m about to cry,” said Sheri Albert. She was taking pictures as her son Eli Albert came down the center of the arena. “It’s exciting, but sad, where did those 12 years go?”

“It’s always bittersweet,” said Wendy Maley, a physics teacher at Duluth High. “You get to love ‘em. They're our babies.”

For Principal Jason Lane, it was a special experience because he came to Duluth HS four years ago. “It’s my first class I came through with as freshmen,” he said. “I feel like a parent.”

While graduation is a time of melancholy, there’s also excitement over the future of the graduates.

“I love this!” said Kat McNally, who teaches senior language arts at the high school. “They’re all polished up and ready to go!”

“I’m excited,” said Anna Morris, a graduating senior, her cap personalized with her name spelled out in letters and 2012 in glitter. “I’m so glad I’m graduating!”

~ Congratulate the graduates below!

The class motto is a quote from Albert Einstein: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

 “I challenge you to make a difference!” said Valedictorian Ayshali Gauba. “Here we are together, for the last time.” For her, too, there was one word that best described graduation. “This is a bittersweet moment for us all.” Jason Gong was the class salutatorian. About 100 members of the class graduated with honors.

There was also another reason to celebrate. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duluth High School No. 10 of all public, charter and magnet schools in Georgia this year. It was named No. 1 in Gwinnett County.

Keep up with Peachtree Corners news. Subscribe to the Peachtree Corners Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.