The school campus was once again a sea of black caps and congratulatory bouquets as the classes of 2012 were conferred with their diplomas from YCIS Shanghai’s Gubei Campus and Century Park Campus.

Friends, teachers, family, and alumni joined to witness this milestone for the largest graduating class from the Gubei Campus since its inception in 1995. As a group, the 63 young men and women represented a wide range of talents, but the ceremony also acknowledged individuals whose contribution to, and leadership in, the school community extended into multiple areas.

With a sizable percentage of graduands who have spent seven or more years at YCIS Shanghai, including one who had studied at YCIS Shanghai for 14 years, their graduation was, is a sense, leaving a familiar home, which was best captured in student Xing Jun’s farewell speech:

“For me, saying goodbye is that moment where you begin to turn a page in a book, but can’t help but want to read that incredible passage over and over again… as I stand here, and when I leave, I will be staring at this auditorium… in my mind, it will be as it is now: in the present.”

At YCIS Shanghai’s Century Park Campus, there was immense excitement surrounding the inaugural graduation ceremony. The evening’s sentiment was one of a community coming together to send their young adults off with pride and joy. Graduands are matriculating to pursue degrees with the hallmark distinction of a global citizen, from University of Toronto to study actuarial science to University of California, Berkeley to major in environmental science.

Chinese Co-Principal Mary Yu’s parting words to the graduands were particularly touching, as she once served as Chinese teacher to some of them when they were as young as five years old. “I was so touched when the students unexpectedly presented me with a bouquet of flowers,” she said after the ceremony. “I am humbled and reminded of the honour of being a teacher.”