This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection. 

By Joey Blood

The Class of 2026 officially graduated from Swampscott High School on June 6 after hearing from keynote speaker Peter Franklin.

Franklin, a fan-favorite teacher at Swampscott High School, is retiring. After 20 years of teaching, the commencement address served as Franklin’s farewell to the Class of 2026, as well as fellow students, administrators, teachers and Swampscott alumni. He also thanked them for their support over the years.

Franklin offered the graduating class a few pieces of advice.

“First and foremost, we have but one obligation, one vocation: To be a good person,” Franklin said.

Franklin encouraged graduates to embrace challenges, seize opportunities and make the most of each day.

“You could have a chapter as a high school English teacher or as a management consultant or as a pastry chef or as a bakery cafe owner or as a college professor,” Franklin said, “and that moment 20 years ago, to a new chapter at the home of the Big Blue. I could have never predicted this path.”

Franklin later emphasized the importance of embracing new opportunities. Drawing from his own experience, Franklin said embracing opportunities changed his life forever. He also reminded graduates not to take themselves too seriously, borrowing a phrase from the class president and encouraging them to be “down to clown.”

With that being said, he emphasized how it’s important to savor every moment.

“No matter how uncomfortable the pressure or challenges will be, I believe in you,” Franklin said.

Franklin assured graduates that he would be supporting them every step of the way, regardless of the path they choose.

“I have seen you rise to the challenge of rigorous expectations. I have seen you take responsibility for your decisions and actions,” Franklin said. “I have seen you take risks in the classroom, and come out a stronger, more resilient individual. I have seen you succeed in ways that you never thought imaginable.”

Franklin concluded by thanking the Swampscott community for the past 20 years, calling the experience one of his “greatest adventures.”

“Thank you,” Franklin said. “We’re in this together.”