In the microcosm that makes up the IB program of Henrico High School, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is special not because of the half day, or the promise of lots of food in the days to follow, but because it is the day that IB students are honored for their achievements and their completion of a momentous milestone in the IB world.

On Nov. 21, IB parents, teachers, and students gathered to recognize both the current Junior class for their completion of the Middle Years Program (MYP, grades 6-10) and the graduated seniors back from the ‘real world’ in order to receive their IB diplomas.

By far, the most entertaining and anticipated part of the ceremony is the student speeches. Top scorers from both the MYP program as well as the Diploma Program (DP, grades 11-12) prepare a speech in order to commemorate their personal IB journey as well as the IB journey of their class. These speeches are able to capture the essence of the IB program. They touch on some of the best moments and some of the worst, not to mention the plethora of inside jokes that say “you just had to be there.” Following the speeches, the students are called to the stage one-by-one in order to receive their certificates (MYP) or diplomas (DP). In the reception afterward, the true spirit of Thanksgiving is evident in all the smiles of all the students who can finally say, “I made it.”