Superintendent Message - June 2026
To the Graduating Class of 2026,
In many ways, each of you has already experienced and overcome so much in your young lives. Living in a rapidly changing digital age has shaped the way you learn, communicate, and experience the world around you. Overcoming the impacts of a global pandemic required perseverance beyond your years. Versatility, flexibility, and balance became skills you learned through it all. Even your middle school years of remote learning taught you lessons about adaptability, responsibility, and connection that will stay with you long after graduation.
You have spent so many years dreaming about this moment in time. Often, you may find yourself exploring new interests, reconsidering your plans, and discovering passions you never expected. Ultimately, this is a natural part of life and growing up. Before you know it, you will be fully immersed in your next chapter and likely experiencing many of these same life changes again. Everyone goes through periods of uncertainty, growth, and change, and those experiences will continue to shape your life in meaningful ways. Nowadays, the average person changes jobs/careers 6 or 7 times during their lifetime, just imagine all that you will accomplish, all the people you will influence, and the good you will add to the world.
As you reflect on the countless hours of studying, projects, homework, and let’s be honest, maintaining a high school social life, do not forget the incredible memories made along the way. Momentarily, let’s jump back to your first years in school, Kindergarten 2014. It is safe to say that without 2014 our lives would have been far less entertaining, but thankfully Taylor Swift gave us “Shake It Off.” Not to be outdone, Pharrell Williams released the endlessly catchy song “Happy,” which somehow still gets stuck in everyone’s head. Just when you thought music could not take up any more space in your mind, Frozen dominated 2014 with “Let It Go,” a song that nearly every student, parent, and teacher knew by heart. Oh, and the shows you grew up watching included Paw Patrol, Doc McStuffins, Jessie, and Phineas and Ferb, especially Agent P himself, Perry the Platypus. Now add in Minecraft becoming the game everyone played, the release of the iPhone 6, and popular sayings like “I can’t even,” “Hashtag,” “Everything is awesome,” and “YOLO,” and it is easy to see why reminiscing about the past can be so enjoyable throughout life.
Of course, it would not be appropriate for me to focus only on the past given everything you have accomplished and all that lies ahead of you. Nor would it be right for me to let you graduate without offering a few words of advice as you begin your next chapter and launch into your future.
Hold on to your values and remember that character is built through hard work, humility, and perseverance. Often, the strongest people are not always obvious, and to stay strong they are grounded, work hard, and continue building and growing. Like the wide-open plains that seem to stretch forever, your future is full of opportunity if you remain hopeful and resilient. Many of life’s greatest lessons come after setbacks, when you choose to get back up, adjust, and keep moving forward.
Even when life becomes difficult, remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Never underestimate the impact you can have when you live with integrity, support others, and commit yourself to creating something meaningful.
It has been a great pleasure watching so many of you grow up. The class of 2026 will always hold a unique place for me. As your Superintendent, I am so tremendously proud of all you have accomplished. You will do great things in your life!
Congratulations on this exceptional milestone in life. You are graduates of the Lake Washington School District.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jon Holmen
Superintendent
Lake Washington School District