Bittersweet

A Graduation to remember

By Latoya Williams

For some this year has just begun, for others this year’s beginning marks the ending of a long rough journey.  

As the last sign of melting snow leaves, caps and gowns are being ordered. Students who once walked the halls are now deciding the next phase of their life. Graduation at Delta has never been just about a ceremony. 

The class of 2026 stands at that familiar yet unfamiliar edge; it has always been more about the testimony of persistence, reinvention and belief. That the time spent at Delta has been the thread that will bridge the past and the present together.

It is sweet to think about the connections made, the bonds formed and the promise of a better tomorrow looms over the horizon. 

As Delta says goodbye and so long to a graduate of 2026, the laughter, the lessons and the encouragement from instructors who believed in us even when they doubted themselves echo through their minds. 

Delta is a place where second chances felt possible and where futures begin to feel real. The promise of tomorrow has never felt closer than it does now. 

And yet, there is a bitterness too. 

Leaving means letting go of what has become familiar. It means stepping away from the courtyard, the plant wall and all the areas that shaped them and led them into a world that asks more questions than it gives answers.

Still, that is the beauty of this moment. The Class of 2026 does not leave empty-handed. They leave carrying resilience, confidence and the knowledge that Delta College was not just a chapter, it was a foundation. 

What they take with them will guide graduates into careers, further education and lives still unfolding.

Hal: “I’m moving to Lansing and getting a job in media/broadcasting with WILX. For me, the most memorable moments would have to be print night, the chaos, the company, the laughs and the exhaustion.” Hal said to future Electronic Media Broadcasting students: “Find your true passion, learn how to make connections with your classmates” 

Levi: “I’m going to Wayne State University to study mechanical engineering and hopefully eventually work in renewable energy! I like hanging out on print nights — even when it gets loud or late, there’s always interesting conversation to say the least.” To the future Engineers, Levi would tell you, “You gotta lighten up, don’t psych yourself out about a bad grade or two. Keep working, it’s going to be okay.”

Jacob: “I’m torn between Oakland, Northwood, or Central Michigan. Journalism to some degree for my bachelors, I would have to also say all the print nights have been memorable.” To the future journalist, “Always strive for greatness”

Abigail: “I’ll be going to the College for Creative Studies, my most memorable moments are when I’m working on a graphic and I start listening to the staff conversations” To those who might be thinking about going into graphics “Don’t miss class, never buy the books. I never used them.”

Blake, our fearless leader, the multimedia award winning Editor-in-Chief who remains undecided as to where he will be going in the fall, although he does have a tender heart towards CMU. “I plan on getting a big boy job, no longer working for an hourly wage, I’ll definitely have a career in Journalism, but I’m thinking of maybe going into public relations.” 

Last but not least, Latoya. I will not be furthering my education after my graduation in the spring, as Delta had taught me college isn’t for everyone. I’ll be spending the next few years getting my daughter through high school. To the future journalists, learn AP style. If you don’t, your editor will yell at you for oxford commas.