While most Howard County seniors will toss their caps days earlier, Marriotts Ridge’s seniors won’t graduate until 7 p.m. on May 29th for the third year in a row. This timing creates a nine-day limbo between their last day of school and the ceremony, disrupting plans and celebrations. For many, the delayed graduation leaves them in a frustrating holding pattern, waiting for the culmination of years of hard work. Every year, the timing of graduation at Marriotts Ridge sparks confusion. Unlike their peers at neighboring schools, Marriotts Ridge seniors face an unusually long gap between their last day of classes and the ceremony. While other schools schedule graduations within a few days, Marriotts Ridge seniors endure a drawn-out wait.
The last day of classes for seniors is set for May 20th, leaving more than a full week before graduation. While some might appreciate the break, for many it feels like a reminder of the uncertainty that comes with the end of high school. The excitement of finishing school quickly fades as the long wait for graduation takes over.
“Having such a long wait between the last day of school and graduation makes plans more difficult. I was supposed to go to Korea and now that trip is set back a week,” says senior Pio Kim. “It’s like we’ve already finished, but we’re stuck in this weird in-between phase.”
For some, this extended time presents another problem: graduation photos. The ceremony’s late evening timing means that most seniors will have their pictures taken in dim lighting, which won’t capture the celebratory moments as they’d hoped.
“It’s so annoying that we won’t have good pictures because it’s going to be dark when the ceremony ends,” says senior David Gao. “We’ve been looking forward to this for years, and the photos are going to turn out not as good”
Not all seniors see the wait as a negative. Some, like senior Juho Bay, have found the time between school’s end and the ceremony to be an opportunity to reflect and relax.
“It’s nice to have some time to relax before everything gets super hectic with graduation day and all the celebrations,” he says.
For Bay, it’s a chance to recharge before the whirlwind of events that follow graduation.
Despite mixed feelings about the timing, the significance of graduation is undeniable. For seniors, the evening ceremony on May 29th will mark the culmination of their hard work and achievements. While the wait can feel unnecessary, the ceremony promises to bring everything full circle.
While many seniors continue to ask why their graduation has to differ from those at other schools, for now, they’ll have to wait. They’ll continue looking forward to the moment when they can finally walk across the stage, toss their caps into the air, and close the high school chapter of their lives. The delay may have caused some inconvenience, but it won’t diminish the pride that comes with achieving this milestone.