Graduation Order

The kids that worked so hard must be recognized. It is their honor

Ridiculous!

Have a grt future frnd

Great Job young lady!!!

You would assume your school/administration would be PROUD of these students’ achievements ????

While the kids who have started this recognize the other side’s of the argument, the comments posted are clearly by people uninformed about the situation. Let me first clarify that we will be recognized but not in the traditional way or in an honorable manner, rather just as a title among other kids. Then, there is a separate ceremony: academic awards night. However, how is that sufficient when athletes and artists are announced in front of the entire school whenever an accomplishment is made. The one time we get the opportunity to experience this is typically at graduation, an academic showcase. We don’t even have the chance at GCHS to wear cords for what we have accomplished over the years with the exception of the honors cord because they don’t want to 1. Let us stand out more to promote “equality” and 2. Because they are too cheap and lazy to order them when they could just allow the clubs and organizations do it themselves. Now let’s talk about “inequality” and how this is so “unfair” to other kids... because it’s not. First of all, there are countless students in honors who work 2 to 3 jobs just to help their families with financial struggles, and because they want to be at the top, they come home and work for hours upon hours to maintain the straight A grades they have had for four years. Maybe that’s not for everybody, but if it’s not then please don’t complain about trying just as hard. In regards to those with circumstances or disabilities that have hindered some progress, I can also tell you there are plenty of students graduating with honors that have had 504s their entire life, have been diagnosed with severe mental illnesses as a result of burning themselves out, have just learned English in the past 8 years, or have been subjected to family hardships their entire life. Finally, I leave you with this scenario: if we all ran a marathon, we would start at the same point, the same starting position. The kids who train the most leading up (or in thi

It is a recognized convention that honor graduates go first at Graduation. Many of these kids worked very hard for this little bit of recognition.

These kids need to be recognized among all others for their outstanding achievements.

I deserve to be recognized

Recognition of achievement is not discrimination. It is fundamentally an American tradition. Reward the achievers to encourage achievement!!

Those students worked for it , put in the extra time and deserved to be recognized for there achievements.

While I completely agree with issues brought from both sides, I think graduation should remain as it has been. My argument has nothing to do with intelligence or hard work but rather familiarity and understanding. For the past four years each of us, regardless of honors title, have been surrounded by the same 125 students. We've consistently been in the same classes with each other and understand each other's struggles and achievements. I do not believe people with lower ranks are inferior mainly because some students couldn't devote themselves to academics as much due to art, music, or having to work to support their family. Students who devoted themselves to athletics have a much greater understanding for each other than they do for those who devoted themselves to academics. Graduation is a time to reflect what you've accomplished, both in and out of the classroom, but it's harder to do that if you're not surrounded by those who were there for you each step of the way. Personally for me I will alphabetically be sitting next to people I have never even met. I do not want to end my experience with Gulf Coast by being surrounded by people who I didn't even experience high school with. I'll be graduating with my class but I won't really be graduating with my class.

Agree. There are many reasons to recognize achievement...not the least of which is to inspire others to achieve. Let’s not minimize the achievements in an attempt to artificially equalize unequal commitment and hard work.

I love Jeff ❤️

It is sad that a school that prides itself on high academics, will not recognize the students that allow the school to carry such honors. Participation awards should end after kindergarten. These students are not where they are due to luck. We watch our daughter work until 2 am most days in order to keep her GPA where it is at.

Agreed

I’m sorry but does anyone else see a huge isssue with this? Do not get me wrong, honors students have worked hard, but this is not the way to get recognition. Graduation is a time for everyone to be together despite your academic rank and know that we have all achieved this single goal. It says a lot about yourself if you think you should go before other people because you think you worked harder academically, when in reality not everyone has time to focus solely on school. So many of our students work tirelessly outside of school to support their families and go to college, but by doing this you’re saying that it means nothing if their grades don’t meet honors requirements. Don’t forget those “remaining students” are human beings too, who have also worked hard to get here. Graduation is not a contest, this is not your place to judge.

This should not change.

Hard work and dedication should always be recognized.

There’s been a reason why they’ve done it like that for years .....because it’s deserved and honors should be recognized!