On May 30th, 2026, life is going to be different for all the students in Ankeny High School’s (AHS) Class of 2026. They will walk the stage, grab their diploma, and close the high school chapter of their life. Graduation is the first step in many of these seniors’ new lives, which can be exciting or one of the hardest things they do.

AHS prepares students for graduation in numerous ways. A significant part of this is making sure that students are eligible to graduate and have met all the necessary requirements.

“A huge part leading up to graduation is ensuring students are finishing the year well, passing their classes, and making sure they meet credit requirements, and our role is to observe and put interventions in to help students get there,” said AHS counselor Kelly Andrews.

AHS also has a way to honor students who have participated in different activities or groups throughout the year, such as volunteer hours and the National Honor Society (NHS). The students may be given a chord or a medal to represent what they have done.

“Students have worked so hard, and to have a medal, honor, or chord to represent that hard work is important to recognize their achievements,” Andrews said.

One of the last responsibilities on the school’s side is the ceremony itself. The speakers must be selected, diplomas need to be prepared, and students must receive their caps and gowns. As these preparations come together, there’s a strong sense of finality towards the transition.

“When we picked up our caps and gowns, everything just felt so real. We are never going to attend this school again,” AHS senior Gwyn Christensen said.

In addition to meeting academic requirements, seniors have to put a lot of time and effort into things outside of school, like graduation parties. Graduation parties are an important tradition for high schoolers, but require a lot of attention during an already stressful time.

“Getting grad cards and figuring all that out is so stressful, same with a grad party, it’s so hard to plan for,” AHS senior Sophia Medici said.

Among the different pathways students choose after graduating, including college, military service, or trade school, it’s the first time many of these students are on their own, which can be very intimidating.

“Living on your own, paying for your own stuff, and being independent, in a way, can be really nerve-racking,” AHS senior Maliya Cobb said.

Independence won’t be the only change that comes with graduating and moving away to college. The familiarity of going to school and interacting with the same people every day will change.

“All the people we’ve been going to school with since we were 5 years old are no longer going to the same school as us, and I won’t know what’s going on in a lot of my friends’ lives,” Cobb said.

Even though there’s sadness regarding leaving high school and classmates, it’s also an exciting and new part of many people’s lives. College and life post-secondary school mark a period of change and a whole new world of opportunities.

“I’m super excited to close this chapter and end high school and start a new one with new people and opportunities,” said Medici.