Graduation time is here for the Class of 2023, with commencement exercises happening all across the Upper Peninsula.

While we are always proud of the many fine young people who are graduating from high school, we are extra impressed by this year’s class who spent the majority of their high school days under the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virtual learning. Vaccinations. Masks. Shelter in place.

These are all things these young women and men will remember vividly as part of their high school careers.

Of course, measures were taken to try to give them the academic and extracurricular experience that were as close to “normal” as possible. But it wasn’t an easy thing to do what with a pandemic underway.

Here we are now at the conclusion of the Class of 2023’s journey through high school. We hope these young people have some happy memories to go along with the craziness that became part of what they endured.

Good luck in the future, kids. We know you’ve got resilience and determination down pat already, no matter what your future holds.