By: Yana Patel and Daniela Lucas
Graduation is often seen as the highlight of one’s Senior year. After four years of balancing school, work, extracurricular activities and their personal lives, students are finally able to walk the stage in their cap and gown. Depending on the student, they will have various cords, sashes or stoles around their neck to show the achievements they have made throughout their four years of high school including clubs, leadership positions and honors societies. Although these cords and sashes may seem like a minor detail, it is often something students look forward to receiving. However, Port Chester High School for the most part does not partake in this.
Of the numerous cords and sashes one can receive, only five are being awarded at PCHS. These five include: the blue and white cords which represent students in the National Honor Society, the honor stole for the top 10% of the graduating class, the Salutatorian/Valedictorian stoles, an IB Diploma medal for the candidates who participated in the IB Diploma Program, and the Seal of Biliteracy Medal for the students who have proved their proficiency in a second language (Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian).
While I understand that these cords are just a small part of the whole graduation ceremony, it’s often the small details that we as Seniors end up remembering. While yes I agree, that these cords have nothing more than a symbolic value, it allows students to feel seen and recognized for their hard work. Students wear these cords with pride, knowing that their dedication and perseverance is valued. It shows that the school is proud to call these students theirs. Those who partake in extracurricular activities, and put long hours into their clubs to see them succeed should receive recognition for their efforts. Doing so would encourage students to become more involved in our school and give them the recognition they deserve.
As the school places such a great emphasis on having a high-achieving and a hard working student body, there should be more recognition for them. Ultimately, this isn’t solely about the honors cords and sashes, but rather a larger issue of how high-achieving students feel like they are being looked over.
However, it seems that this year things are beginning to change. At the first assembly of the year, the school mentioned that they are awarding students who receive High Honor Roll and Honor Roll after each marking period in a ceremony. Alongside this the school intends to reinstate the “perfect attendance” award to honor students who come to school every day. I hope that as the school furthers down this path, they continue to acknowledge more of its students.