After the exams and the study, the nights of cramming and homework, university offers and deferments and planning for the future, it was the night to get dressed up, breathe out, and celebrate.
Newcastle Grammar graduate Jessica Rugaruza was surrounded by three generations of her family at Civic Park on Thursday night, clutching a pastel bouquet of delicate flowers against her chocolate gown and polished golden accessories. She was the second of her mother's seven children to graduate high school after the family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in an extraordinary ordeal that ended a years-long separation when they were reunited in Newcastle in 2013. Standing in Civic Park with her mother, Imaculee, her grandmother, Doros, her sister, Joy, and her baby niece, Elorah, was a special moment.
"I'm so excited. I can't wait to see what the future holds," Jessica said.
The graduate has ambitions to study law at university and has had an offer to take a course in nursing, which she was considering deferring. To have her exams behind her was a relief - now, it was time to celebrate.
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long," she said.
Mrs Rugaruza was beaming. When Jessica arrived in Australia, she was only four - a child - seeing her daughter now, at the height of her powers, was beyond words.
"I'm very excited for her and proud," she said. "It's a very special day for us and our family."
Across Civic Park, where students have traditionally mingled in their formal best before the night got underway, Sarah Fogg, Grace Gildenhuys, and Kaidi Shao were thinking about the future. There was no deferment on the horizon for the three close friends. Sarah and Kaidi were ready to spend the summer working to save money for their move to Sydney in the New Year to begin university. Sarah is a lifelong artist and will study graphic design. Kaidi will turn her studies to forensics and criminology. Grace will begin her law studies at Newcastle next year, and she has ambitions to work in the environmental sector.
As friends and families gathered and took photos, compared the latest fashions, and took it all in, Irrawang High School graduate Abby Keeley stood out in a vibrant pink gown. She had just stepped out of a Barbie-pink car covered in the iconic character's decals, with a layered train covered in fabric carnations.
"There are about seven layers underneath," she said, beaming. "It's so heavy! ... I love Barbie because she does it all; she can do everything. And I think I can do it all. I wanted to have my Barbie moment. I can do it all."
Abby already had a list of early offers to continue her studies and wants to go into environmental science. She's relieved to have her exams over and is now looking for the next chapter.
"I'm going to stay local in Newcastle, start here and get my feet," she said.
