When people think about ring day, they think about finding the perfect spring dress, styling their hair, and the flood of Instagram posts after. And while all of that is fun, there is something about ring day that runs much deeper than just surface-level aesthetics. It’s a tradition that deserves much more than a spot in our camera rolls.
This year, the class of 2027 celebrated Ring Day. As I sat in the West Wike, watching the classmates who have shared my ups and downs since the beginning of this year walk up to the stage, I realized just how meaningful Ring Day is. It’s about recognizing that we’ve made it halfway through high school. All those late nights spent studying, messy group projects, and tough losses in sports were worth it. To me, that is something worth celebrating.
As Mrs. Leonard mentioned in her speech, the tradition of turning our class rings is one that connects us to every Agnes Irwin sophomore who came before us. It’s symbolic in a way familiar to many of us. Each turn of the ring, whether done by teachers, family, or friends, is a different silent affirmation. You’re growing. You’re moving forward. You are becoming who you’d always dreamt you’d become.
Some might think that Ring Day is outdated or too focused on aesthetics. But I think that it’s one of the very few chances we get in a school year that is always pushing us onto our next assignments, our next test, our next goal, to just slow down and reflect. Ring Day is a chance for us to celebrate our shared story as a class and recognize the strength that we see in each other.
Yes, I loved picking out my Ring Day dress. I loved getting my nails done the night before, and I loved doing funny poses with my friends in the photos. But what I’ll always remember is the feeling of standing side by side with my peers, shiny ring on my finger, knowing that that moment meant something. That it didn’t just mark halfway, but how hard we have worked, how far we have come, and all the bonds we’ve built along the way.
Ring Day means so much to our school. Not because of the traditions it carries, but because we give it meaning, and the class of 2027 has so much to be proud of.
