School Leaving Ceremonies and Graduations: The applause is important, but what comes next matters most

Over the past few weeks, school halls, auditoriums, churches and community centers across St. Maarten have been filled with proud smiles, standing ovations, tears of joy and countless photographs capturing moments that families will treasure for years to come.

Graduation season is once again upon us.

From kindergarten and primary school graduations to secondary school and tertiary education ceremonies, hundreds of young people are stepping onto stages, receiving certificates and diplomas, and celebrating the successful completion of another chapter in their educational journey.

For parents and guardians, these moments often represent years of sacrifice. Behind every graduate is a story that is rarely told from the podium. There are parents who worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. There are grandparents who stepped in to provide guidance and support. There are teachers who spent extra hours encouraging a student who doubted themselves. There are students who overcame personal struggles, family challenges, financial hardship and obstacles that many around them may never fully understand.

That is why graduation ceremonies matter.

They are more than formal events. They are celebrations of perseverance, determination and hope.

But once the applause fades, the photographs are posted on social media, and the graduation gowns are packed away, we must ask ourselves a difficult but necessary question: What happens next?

As a former teacher and school principal, I have attended more graduation ceremonies than I can count. I have watched students walk across stages filled with excitement about the future. Some went on to become professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders in our community. Others, despite their potential, struggled to find opportunities that matched their ambitions.

The difference was rarely talent.

The difference was often opportunity.

For far too long, St. Maarten has celebrated educational milestones without having enough conversations about the pathways that follow them. We proudly tell our young people that they are the future, but we do not always provide enough opportunities for them to become that future.

This is one of the greatest challenges facing our country today.

Every year, talented young people leave St. Maarten to pursue higher education abroad. We encourage them to dream big, and rightly so. We celebrate their acceptance into universities and colleges in the Netherlands, the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Yet too often, many of them do not return.

Not because they do not love St. Maarten.

Not because they do not want to contribute.

But because they do not see enough opportunities waiting for them when they come home.

At the same time, many of our young people who remain on the island face a different challenge. They graduate and enter a job market that can sometimes leave them feeling disconnected from the opportunities available. Some struggle to gain meaningful work experience. Others find it difficult to secure employment in their chosen field. Too many are left wondering where they fit into the future of the country they call home.

This reality should concern all of us.

A graduation ceremony should never be viewed as the finish line. It should be the starting point of a deliberate national effort to develop our human capital.

If we are serious about investing in the next generation, then we must move beyond speeches and ceremonies.

We need stronger partnerships between schools and the private sector. We need more internships, apprenticeships, mentorship programs and opportunities for students to gain practical experience before they graduate. We need businesses that are willing to invest in young talent and help bridge the gap between education and employment.

We must also broaden our understanding of success.

Not every student will become a lawyer, doctor or university professor. Some will become electricians, plumbers, mechanics, chefs, information technology specialists, marine technicians, hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs. These careers are not secondary options. They are essential professions that help build and sustain our economy.

As a small island developing nation, St. Maarten cannot afford to overlook technical and vocational education. We need skilled tradespeople. We need innovators. We need creators. We need young people who can help solve the challenges facing our country and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

We must also acknowledge the realities facing today’s generation. They are growing up in a world shaped by rapid technological change, artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty, climate challenges and social pressures unlike anything previous generations experienced. Preparing them for the future requires more than academic achievement alone. It requires critical thinking, adaptability, resilience, leadership and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Government has a role to play.

Schools have a role to play.

Businesses have a role to play.

Parents have a role to play.

But perhaps most importantly, the wider community has a role to play.

Every child who graduates from a school on this island should feel that there is a place for them in the future of St. Maarten. They should see opportunities to grow, contribute and succeed. They should know that their talents are valued and that their country is invested in their success.

The graduates crossing stages today will become tomorrow’s teachers, nurses, engineers, police officers, entrepreneurs, public servants and community leaders. The decisions we make now regarding education, workforce development, youth engagement and economic opportunity will determine whether they thrive here or seek their futures elsewhere.

Graduation season should therefore be more than a celebration of what our students have accomplished. It should be a reminder of our collective responsibility to ensure that their accomplishments lead somewhere meaningful.

As we congratulate the Class of 2026 and all students moving on to the next stage of their educational journey, let us celebrate them wholeheartedly. Let us recognize their hard work, determination and achievements.

But let us also commit ourselves to creating a St. Maarten where every graduate has a genuine opportunity to succeed.

Because the true value of a diploma is not measured on the day it is received.

Its value is measured in the doors it opens, the opportunities it creates and the future it helps build.

The ceremonies may end this month.

Our responsibility to the next generation does not.

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