“Class of 2026, today is about us,” were the words from Marblehead High School salutatorian Ian Chemel during an address to the graduating class of 2026 at Piper Field on Friday night.
“We’re done! We did it! We got up for that dreaded 7:55 a.m. bell however many hundreds of times,” Chemel added. “We pushed through probably thousands of pages of notes and who knows how many essays and lab reports and presentations. On this day of celebration, I hope we can all take a moment to look back on how far we have come.”
One hundred eighty-three seniors walked across the stage to receive their high school diplomas on Friday evening to the rapturous cheers of family members and friends from Marblehead and beyond.
The ceremony was opened by an address from class secretary Abdullah Al Janabi, whose speech focused on the importance of human connection.
“Deep down, every human being is wired to connect with one another,” said Al Janabi. “Over the last four years, I haven’t stopped talking. These conversations may have been 30 seconds or 30 minutes, but no matter how long these conversations were, they all compounded and allowed me to understand what life has to offer.”
With Marblehead’s town election just days away and an override on the ballot, Will Cruikshank, president of the MHS Class of 2026 and varsity track athlete, made a timely statement on the importance of community investment.
“Running through Marblehead over the last four years made me realize that community is not just the buildings you pass every day, but the people, traditions and relationships that give those places meaning,” said Cruikshank.
“You start to notice the people who take it, who keep the town moving. The fishermen heading out to sea, the crossing guards out early, shop owners opening up for the day and countless others doing the quiet work that keeps the town running.”
Cruikshank went on to say that “every team, every performance, every classroom and every opportunity that we’ve had exists because people before us chose to care enough to contribute.”
Valedictorian Joy Meshulam shared a series of personal stories of rejection in her speech, challenging her class to take risks without fear rather than regret missed opportunities.
“In the end, I think all of these random moments from high school have taught me the same thing: everything meaningful starts with the willingness to be vulnerable,” said Meshulam.
She added: “To my classmates: sit with someone new. Start the conversation you’ve been avoiding. Ask out your crush. Raise your hand, even when you’re not completely sure. Apply for what feels out of reach and show up even when you don’t feel fully ready. Because failures fade, but never trying lasts a lifetime. So, class of 2026, I hope you regret the things you do, not the things you never dare to do.”
