April and May are exciting and busy periods of the school year. The end of the academic year is in sight and events such as prom and honors day lift everyone’s attitudes. At the same time, there are stresses with end of year exams, advanced placement testing and college decisions for our older students.

As an administration and school community, we encourage everyone to cherish and celebrate these times. Yes, they can add stress. As a Dean of Students and volunteer Student Council Moderator, I can attest to the added work of organizing and executing an event like Prom. But what keeps me grounded and motivated is knowing that Prom, like other end of year events, is a celebratory time that is integral to the high school experience as well as a rite of passage for our students. When the stress piles on and the decision points come at a fast and unpredictable pace, there is solace in the fact that members of our community will recall these times throughout their lives.

With that in mind, I do not like to dwell on the conditions that our young people have had to experience in recent times as I believe it is best to look forward. However, what the youth have been forced to sacrifice over the past 24 months does come to mind when thinking on the significance of events such as prom, honors day, and graduation. Marian Central is proud and grateful that our students will have the opportunity to celebrate these events in traditional fashion.

I would like to end by offering a sentiment of encouragement as we approach the end of the year. For everyone, including students, families, and faculty, the end of the year brings elements that are both positive and negative. Exams, grading, planning events, graduation, coordinating with friends and family; all of these can be both enjoyable and time consuming. It may hit everyone different, but we all experience some mixture of excitement and obligation. Speaking for myself, comfort in these times of stress comes from diligence and a feeling of accomplishment. It’s easy to become overwhelmed. Instead, tackle the obligations with a mindset of progress. I am reminded of a quote from the author Frank Herbert, “Seek discipline and find your liberty.”

Mr. Brad Williams

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