To the graduates of the Class of 2021: Congratulations. This month, you don caps and gowns and celebrate making it through 12 years of schooling, from days when you memorized multiplication tables and printed in big letters to the high school years of writing essays, analyzing data, and interacting with friends and teachers.
This year has been different than any in recent memory, which, in and of itself, makes it special and memorable. You had to learn how to go to school in a new way—with masks, hand-washing, plexiglass dividers and social distancing. But you did it. And now, thanks to more and more South Carolinians being vaccinated, your graduation is in-person with friends and family members so you can share the joy of moving to the next stage of your life.
The Charleston City Paper, in coordination with the Charleston County School District, offers this special keepsake graduation edition to honor your years in local public, charter and private schools. This 32-page publication includes the name of every high school graduate in Charleston County that we were able to collect. (If your name isn’t published, please get your school to contact us.)
Throughout these pages, please also notice the broad community support you have from Mount Pleasant and the peninsula to James Island, West Ashley and North Charleston. Companies from all over the area believe in you and your future. Thanks to their additional support, we are able to spread the word about you and your classmates and what you have accomplished.
We honor your hard work by publishing your accomplishments and singing your praises widely.
Like us, you’re now free, independent and local. Celebrate your success.
But also make your habit of learning over the last dozen years become a habit of lifelong learning. Continue to read and study. Keep pushing the envelope to expand your knowledge and expertise. Show up at the voting booth. And make sure to put your talents to use to help people wherever you live your life.
Andy Brack is publisher of the Charleston City Paper.
Read the full Graduation Issue here.
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