Student speakers at the Bainbridge High School Baccalaureate June 11 at Eagle Harbor Congregational United Church of Christ talked about how strong they were battling through the unprecedented COVID pandemic.

Senior Katie Schei said: “I’m not too worried about us. We might be a little disheveled from the pandemic, but we have learned to endure, and we have grown so much… in our understandings of ourselves, our mental health—something this generation is going to take head-on. We have ambition and drive, and we know we have options. The pandemic broke down walls, and we can choose what to build back up. We have the world in front of us. I’m excited to see what we all do.”

She recalled how her faith has helped her. She remembered in eighth grade she went on a retreat to Fort Flagler. The speaker told stories, played the U2 song “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for,” and then smashed his phone with a hammer. The point was to “Be wild, break free, for the Lord.” Her listening to God has led her to “make the Marine Corps a ministry. My dream is to meet people from all walks of life, all parts of the world, hear their stories and become inspired.”

The value of fairness was the theme of senior Auden Moyer’s reflections. Through his participation with the Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Islands Association, he has learned how fairness can be applied outside the local community. “Embodying and promoting fairness, whether it be with a friend or on an international level, is vital to the prosperity of our global community. The love that we share as human beings is precious, and only when we are able to release this attachment to our material possessions, such as money, can we truly love each other unconditionally without the worry of power, greed and selfishness.”

Senior Lucy Rector said her World Religion class gave her much food for thought. A Buddhist concept that struck her was, “more important than giving things away or becoming a ‘minimalist’ is giving up the views and opinions about yourself that confine you. Self-confidence is not a feeling of superiority, but of independence.”

And senior Sai Prakash is ”profoundly inspired by the power of knowledge…Learning is a lifelong endeavor and every opportunity to expand our understanding of the world is a gift.”

BHS literature teacher Katie Mensch, spoke for the seniors. “For four years, I have been inspired by you. Knowing you, seeing your bond to the community, the school and each other, watching you dance to ‘Footloose’ at prom. It seems impossible that you lost several months of time together. And yet, you did. Your years of high school were cut short, but your bond could not be diminished.

“The tribulations of your high school years could have defined you, could have reduced your desire to grow and lead, and no one would have criticized you. Instead, you led us through your service, your active pursuit of connection and your passion for justice. You shaped yourselves and your school into a community of support and joy.”

Seniors walked into the sanctuary accompanied by Elliot Matteson on piano, with a beautiful rendition of a hymn. Rev. Dee Eisenhauer welcomed everyone acknowledging the inclusiveness of the church. Johanna Munson, co-chair of the sponsoring Bainbridge Island North Kitsap Interfaith Council also welcomed all, followed by Rev. Zackrie Vinczen of Cedars Union Universalist Church. He was co-chair of the planning committee along with Alice Tawresey.

Lang Armstrong, winner of three solo ensemble competitions, played his own arrangement of “All The Things You Are” on his alto saxophone. Sophie Hoff, accompanying herself on piano, sang “Moon River.” Matteson played a melodic recessional for the seniors to leave. The design of the 2023 rainbow hot air balloon rising over the Salish Sea, Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier for the cover of the program was created by Ingrid Griffin.