About 3,000 Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, Public School graduating seniors spent Monday morning at Prince George鈥檚 Stadium in Bowie celebrating what was called 鈥淒ecision Day,鈥� a first-time event held by the county to honor the class of 2023.
It was part pep rally and part career fair.
Students could grab food, take a 360-degree photo with their friends, and sign banners celebrating the imminent end of their high school careers. But they could also stop and talk with representatives of the three colleges in Prince George鈥檚 County, as well as reps from the county鈥檚 Fire and EMS department and some municipal police departments. The military, trade schools and other employers were also in attendance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time we鈥檝e done it, and we wanted our students to understand how important they are,鈥� said Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Monica Goldson. 鈥淭oday we鈥檙e celebrating them before they walk across the stage in three weeks.鈥�
For some students in attendance, most of their more immediate decisions have already been made. But it doesn鈥檛 mean they weren鈥檛 enjoying the atmosphere.
鈥淭his, I did not expect,鈥� said Caleb Winters, a senior at Largo High School getting ready to attend the University of Maryland this fall. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge celebration. I鈥檓 glad that they did this.鈥�
Another student, Mia Haskins, who is about to graduate from College Park Academy, was wearing her Towson University sweatshirt.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just getting us excited for college,鈥� said Haskins. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited. I鈥檓 the first person to go from my family, so I鈥檓 excited.鈥�
And that seemed to be the main point of the event.
鈥淭his represents the true meaning of what we come to work for every single day,鈥� said Goldson. 鈥淔or many of these students, this is a culminating event for them, after 13 years of education. And they鈥檙e making a decision that鈥檚 going to change the rest of their lives. We want them to know this is important to us.鈥�
Goldson said she also wanted the kids to have some fun, 鈥渂ecause real life starts right after graduation. Ask their parents,鈥� she said with a laugh.
