At many schools, eighth-grade graduation follows a familiar script. Students are ranked by grades, valedictorians and salutatorians deliver speeches, and the ceremony is carefully organized by adults.

Unity Point’s eighth-grade graduation is built around a simple belief that guides everything we do: the ceremony belongs to the students. Principal Dr. Mary Beth Goff, Unity Point’s principal, shares that the school’s approach is rooted in a broader view of success. Academic achievement matters, she notes, but it is only one part of what makes a student truly successful. Athletics, music, art, clubs, kindness, leadership, and the ways students support one another all help shape who they become by the time they step into high school.

Because of that belief, Unity Point does not organize graduation around academic rankings or titles. Instead, each class creates a ceremony that reflects who they are. Shortly after spring break, eighth graders elect a graduation committee of five or six classmates. Before the vote, Dr. Goff encourages students to choose peers who will represent the interests of the entire class, not just their closest friends. The committee then helps select the music, choose student speakers, and set the tone of the event so that it feels like it truly belongs to them.

One of the most meaningful parts of the ceremony, Dr. Goff explains, is the “Passing of the Torch.” During this moment, a seventh grader is chosen to receive a symbolic torch from the graduating class, representing the responsibility of stepping into leadership for the year ahead. That same student returns the following year as an eighth grader to help pass the torch to the next class, continuing a chain of leadership from one group of Titans to another.

Last year, that student was Oluwasubomi S. Oludayo Badejo.

As a seventh grader, she did not expect to hear her name called. She knew the eighth graders liked her, but when she was chosen to receive the torch, surprise was her first reaction. Standing in front of the gym, she felt nervous, worried she might have to make a very long speech—something she did not usually do. Yet once the moment passed, she realized how much she enjoyed it and quietly told herself it was time to “step it up a bit” as she moved into eighth grade.

Looking back now as an eighth grader about to graduate, Oluwasubomi believes she was chosen because of the way she tries to show up every day: as a good student, a kind person, and a helpful listener. Teachers and classmates often see her as someone who is there for others, and she takes pride in that. “Everything that I want to do for the school is always for the school’s greater good,” she reflects, “and I just always want to make sure I have the best intentions for everything that I contribute to Unity Point.”

From her perspective, the torch ceremony is special because it connects two classes at once. It links students who are leaving with those who are just stepping into leadership. To her, it is a moment of unity and camaraderie: the outgoing class can share what they have learned, while the incoming class brings new ideas and energy. In that exchange, both groups grow.

As she stepped into her role as an eighth-grade leader, Oluwasubomi set out to be the kind of older student she wished she had when she was younger. She remembers times when she felt less than or not taken seriously, so she makes an effort to treat younger students with respect and encouragement. She wants them to feel seen, heard, and valued.

This year, she has also focused on believing in herself. A self-described perfectionist, she set ambitious goals in activities like Scholar Bowl and BETA Club. For years, she dreamed of helping her Scholar Bowl team win the big tournament, especially after hearing about her brother’s success with his team. When her team finally won this year, she realized not only that she was capable, but also that success is shared. It happened because she and her teammates trusted one another, stayed united, and leaned on the support of their sponsor. She learned that she could do hard things—and that she did not have to do them alone.

She has carried that same persistence into athletics. Although she has never considered herself the most athletic student, she loves sports and has tried out for track for four years. This year, she earned a spot on the team for the first time, a milestone she counts among her proudest accomplishments.

For Oluwasubomi, Unity Point has been home since preschool. Over the years, she has visited other schools for summer programs and clubs, and those experiences have highlighted what feels different about her own school. The relationships among students stand out most: the trust, camaraderie, and friendships that grow over time. She believes those relationships are what make Unity Point feel so special.

She also talks about teachers who have left a lasting imprint on her life. She remembers how Mrs. Meredith checked on her through a serious allergic reaction in fourth grade and still finds ways to make her laugh when they see each other. She describes a long-standing tradition with Mrs. Deaton—sharing a hug and a hello whenever they meet—and how that teacher helped her see that she could love reading and writing even while working through spelling challenges. These connections, she says, are the kind that students will remember even when they are 60.

As Dr. Goff prepares to call each student’s name at graduation, she carries stories like Oluwasubomi’s in mind. She thinks about the years these students have spent at Unity Point, the challenges they have faced, the accomplishments they have earned, and the relationships that have supported them along the way. The ceremony may last less than thirty minutes, but it represents years of growth and a community that has walked with them from their earliest days of school.

“When our students design this ceremony and pass the torch to one another,” Dr. Goff reflects, “they are showing us exactly who they are: leaders, friends, and young people ready for the next step in their journey.”