A sweet scene of student symmetry played out when children just getting started in school reached out to congratulate high school seniors on the cusp of finishing.
About 170 of the 200 Early College High School soon-to-graduate seniors traveled across Killeen ISD on five buses Monday for a cross-district senior walk as elementary students cheered them on.
Each elementary school orchestrated the scheduled hallway parades a little differently. All included young students with signs, pictures and posters offering congratulations. All cheered with excitement.
The Early College seniors, dressed in black cap and gown smiled, laughed and happily accepted the innocent praise.
Most of the Early College seniors already graduated once, earning associates degrees at the Central Texas College commencement on Friday. They are set to earn their high school diplomas at the KISD ceremony at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 at the Cadence Bank Center.
Tatiana Womack said she felt accomplished with a degree in hand and a diploma coming in a couple of weeks. She was also taking in the emotions of seeing children in an elementary school.
“Today was nostalgic,” she said of walking through three schools as children cheered. “It’s great to see them have role models and to get a look at what they will do in the future. It’s powerful for them to see.
“It’s going to be memorable for us.”
“It was inspiring to see all the kids in the hallways,” said Keilee Allen. “I think it’s exciting and it inspires me to continue on to college (at Auburn University).”
“This is all about coming back to where we started. This is step one. The foundation,” said Diego Martinez. “We’re coming back to our roots and it’s a very nostalgic feeling.
“It feels unreal (to be finishing high school). Little by little I start to feel the emotion and the remembrance of how far I’ve come.”
Killeen ISD photo albums: https://www.killeenisd.org/photos