Class of 2024: A Historic and One-of-A-Kind Group

“Our journey through high school is definitely one of the most unique over Bush’s 100 years, and not only because we were the first class to go through U.S. History with Chat GPT, but because from the beginning, this class was never supposed to be like any other,” said senior class speaker Max Alhadeff ’24. “And we have delivered in the best ways possible.”

Described as silly, sweet, friendly, ambitious, talkative, eclectic, and close-knit, the Class of 2024 began their high school experience during the height of the pandemic. A school day was spent online, and in-person connections and regular school days on campus didn’t occur until their sophomore year. Despite those challenges, the Class of 2024  navigated the unknown, and were able to blaze their own unique trails. Head of School Percy L. Abram used the words “rare” and “classic” to describe the seniors. 

>> Click here to watch the full Commencement Ceremony 

“We learned how to foster connections through these tough times, finding the meaning behind the saying “through thick and thin” at a quicker rate than most,” said Yahya Ahmed ’24 in his opening Commencement remarks. “We were thrown into this thunderstorm of uncertainty and irregularities throughout the year, but we fought through it in remarkable ways we could’ve never imagined; be it through spontaneously camping overnight in school or collectively deciding on getting a class fish. Learning from these experiences, I’m sure all of us will remember the families and friends we’ve created amongst ourselves that looked out for each other at every step of the way. Since I can’t stand here and tell you which answers to seek, I advise you to stay open, stay curious, and question everything. You are all capable of taking on any obstacle lying in your way in any country in the world at any time of the year."

 

The Class of 2024, which featured nineteen Lifers–students that attended all thirteen years at Bush–will now get ready to forge a new journey. This graduating class heads to colleges and universities near and far including Boston College, Claremont McKenna College, Columbia University, Occidental College, Rice University, Tufts University, and the University of Vermont, among many others. Their experiences at Bush have aided in the expressive, talented, and critical thinkers, learners, and citizens they have become. And it seems fitting that this curious and optimistic class started and ended their high school years being a part of history. 

“As the Centennial class, our grade has spent the past year engaging with both the long story of where this school has been and the hopes we bear for it moving forward,” said Juliet Willems ’24 in her closing remarks. "It feels like watching a spark ignite in the center of everything. It feels like history in the making.”