President

Jacob Shi

As graduation peeks at us around the corner, I cannot help but think of this quote I remember seeing on Instagram Reels: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” by Winnie-the-Pooh (I think). For our cuddly bear friend, I’d imagine what made saying goodbye so hard was Christopher Robin, Piglet, Tigger and all his other friends. For me, it is all of you beautiful people. Whether or not I had the privilege of getting to know you these past six years, you all will be what we really miss. And as we dive into whatever adventures lay ahead of us, I know that each one of us will continue to bring a bit of this community that has meant so much to me wherever we go.
I am deeply grateful and honored to have been your class president over this past year and to have been given the opportunity to (hopefully) have made our senior year unforgettable. I have had the immense pleasure of working alongside the other class officers who really were the ones that made everything possible. Kenneth, our fabulous VP, you were the glue that held us together. Thank you for making it so easy to get to become friends, and always finding the joy and whimsy in whatever we did. Vanessa, the best secretary EVER, your dedication to your role and skill in Canva never cease to amaze me. Thank you for being so reliable, and always getting it done. And Annabelle, truly the tuffest treasurer of all time, you were injecting not just cash into our books, but also energy into every meeting, every conversation and every activity we did together. Thank you for always jumping in to help and bringing the hype to our squad.
Of course, nothing would have ever gotten done without the help of our spectacular faculty advisors, Ms. E and Ms. Sarkis. Ms. E, I am so thankful to have gotten to know you beyond our annual guidance counselor check-ins because you are one of the most amazing faculty at this school. Thank you for all you do for us and all you have done for me. Ms. Sarkis, as funny as I think it would be, I extend my deepest apologies if baby Amelia’s first words end up being the integer numbers between five and eight. From Precalc to prom, you’ve always been such an impressive and incredible person. Thank you for keeping us on task and on time, especially for the big events this year.
And last but not least, I would like to thank all of you. My classmates, my peers, my friends — thank YOU for making my senior year unforgettable. I said it already, and I’ll say it again: you all are what I will miss, what I will think of when I look back at BLS. To the underclassmen or juniors who may read this, everything will be okay. Keep doing the things you love, spending time with the people you care about, chasing after the things you want, and you will find a stride that makes you happy. Never stop going after it, but don’t get so caught up in the little things that you lose the big picture. Savor every moment you can — it goes by faster than you’d think.
I’ll be honest, I was never the biggest Winnie-the-Pooh enjoyer, but for that one quote, the little guy was onto something. The hardest goodbyes come from the people and places that mean the most to us, and for that, I truly am incredibly lucky. As my time here comes to an end, I look back and can’t help but smile. So here’s to graduating at long last (or is it too soon? I can’t seem to decide), five years in this old building, one year on Zoom and all the years to come.

Sumus Primi!

Sincerely,
Jacob Shi

Vice President
Kenneth Cacho Bermudez

Wow, it’s crazy to officially say that it’s all over. Like no matter how many times I say it, it doesn’t make it feel more real. But our journey at Boston Latin School is truly over. And I can’t lie, it’s an experience that I’ll cherish forever. Looking back on how far we’ve come, it almost doesn’t seem real. I still remember that September morning, logging into Zoom and sitting in Mrs. Orellana’s homeroom. I was pumped to finally be in the school I worked so hard for. Each day that I came in, even though I might have been tired, angry or bored, a part of me was still so grateful for the opportunity to attend this school and those that were around to support me.
Navigating BLS was definitely not easy. During sixie year, I branched out to clubs but didn’t really find anything that interested me. Stepping into the halls at the end of the year during hybrids was definitely surreal but still cool. And of course, I have to shoutout the BLS ‘26 Discord server. I apologize to anyone I banned as mod; I was definitely a different man back then. It was also where I made some of my first friends at BLS and found my community, when we weren’t playing Among Us, obviously.
As time passed at BLS, I became more involved in my extracurriculars and clubs and genuinely feel like I cemented myself at this school. Whether you had to deal with my late articles in the Argo, teaching me moves at Bboy or signing in students at the library, you made my whole experience a whole lot better. Sometimes the only thing that would get me out of bed in the morning is the thought of the afternoon clubs that I could have fun in.
I would say the best thing about my time at BLS is most definitely the people I surrounded myself with. Every single person I interacted with in these halls has helped to shape me into the person I am today. Whether I haven’t talked to you since sixie year or I call you for advice every other night, I really want to thank you, because you impacted my life in one way or another. This, of course, includes my teachers, at least the ones that didn’t absolutely seem to hate my guts. My time at BLS would not be as rich and vibrant if you guys weren’t there supporting me at every corner.
If I were to leave BLS saying anything, it would be to just be kind. I know that it’s cliche and everybody tells you to do it already, but I’m being so serious. Being kind to other people, while sometimes hard, is the most rewarding thing that you could possibly do at this school. Help someone with their homework, pick up somebody’s papers in the hallways, compliment random people. Whatever it is, just spread positivity into the world. God knows we need more of it.
To my officers, I really enjoyed running this class with you all. Those late night FaceTime calls and the 30 million rants that we had made this one of the strongest bonds I made at BLS. Jacob, Mr. Prez, thank you for always keeping us grounded and on task; I know that you will achieve great things. Annabelle, just keep your energy and your vibes. During some heavy days you could always lift me up, and I hope you go on to bring that same energy to others. And last, and definitely least, Vanessa Van Vu, my sworn enemy and No. 1 opp. Thank you for being the backbone of the senior class at times and for putting out all those fliers. You have been a constant for me in high school and experiencing this with you has been truly a blessing. This isn’t a goodbye, because I’m literally gonna call you like every week for the rest of our lives.
And to the best class in the world, I just want to say thank you for making me your vice president. Regardless of whether or not you voted for me or my opponent (or didn’t vote at all), it was such a pleasure helping to create such a memorable senior year. Even though sometimes you would ask the dumbest questions (NO, you can’t enter people’s cars if the door is unlocked!), there was no way I would have spent my senior year other than being your VP. I truly wish you all the best wherever you go and that you carpe diem!

Sincerely,
Kenneth

Treasurer
Annabelle Ahearn

In classic Boston Latin School fashion, I am writing this 30 minutes before it is due. I may have had two weeks to do it, but I’m sure everyone reading this can relate to the procrastination methods we have all mastered at some point during our time here. That is just one of the many things that unites BLS students. Others include Latin pop quizzes in tenth grade, Lunch 2 being the superior lunch, spending study blocks in the library and honestly, eighth grade as a whole. The best part about all of these moments is that we experienced them together as a class. From seventh grade to now, we went through all of these canon events side by side.
For six years, BLS has been more than just a school. It has been early mornings, long nights, stressful assessments, unforgettable laughs and friendships that I know will last far beyond graduation. Somewhere between rushing to class, complaining about homework and counting down the days until breaks, this place became a home.
Over the past few weeks, as everything has slowly started coming to an end, there has been this bittersweet feeling. I am so excited to finally be done and move on to what comes next, but at the same time, I realize how much I am going to miss this place. Not just the routine of high school, but the school itself and everything that comes with it. And although I am looking forward to leaving, I would not even be at this point if it were not for all of the teachers, faculty and guidance counselors who helped us get here. Whether it was staying after school to help with homework, talking us through SAT scores and college applications, or simply being someone to listen to, every one of these people played a role in helping us become who we are today. Thank you for your patience, encouragement and for constantly pushing us to be better students and better people. BLS would not be the same without the people who dedicate so much of themselves to this community every single day.
Serving as Treasurer for the Class of 2026 has been one of the most rewarding parts of my high school experience. Being elected and trusted to help manage our class funds while contributing to events that brought our grade together is something I never took for granted. There were so many moments when I caught myself thinking, “I am so right for this role,” not in a pretentious way, but because I genuinely felt like I was contributing and making a difference. From fundraisers to senior activities, every decision was made with the hope of making our final years memorable for everyone. I am incredibly grateful to have worked alongside such dedicated class officers who truly cared about making things special for our class. Meeting every Monday to plan Wacky Wednesdays, fundraising events, Canva posts, Instagram updates and answering hundreds of direct messages may have been stressful at times, but there was always laughter somewhere in the middle of it all.
A special thank you to Ms. E and Ms. Sarkis, because none of this would have been remotely possible without their time, patience and dedication to our class. The weekly meetings, late-night emails and their constant support shows just how much they cared about our success and our experience at BLS.
To my classmates: thank you for making these six years unforgettable. We survived the pressure, the exhaustion and all of the chaos that comes with being BLS students. We celebrated accomplishments together, supported one another through challenges and created memories that I know will stay with us forever. Watching everyone grow into the people they are today has been inspiring, and I cannot wait to see where life takes all of us next.
To the younger students at BLS: give yourself permission to enjoy the experience while you are living it. It is so easy to get caught up in grades, rankings and constantly comparing yourself to the people around you. But it is important to remember that we are all on our own journeys, and right now, BLS is simply one path that connects them all. At the same time, this experience is deeply individual and personal to every person who walks it. So say yes to opportunities, get involved and always talk to the person sitting next to you. Take things one day at a time, and do not take any moment here for granted. High school moves much faster than you think, and before you know it, you will be reading a letter like this not as a sixie or sophomore, but as a senior preparing to leave.
There is something comforting about walking the same halls every day and being surrounded by people who understand exactly what this experience is like. Still, I know that everything we learned here, both inside and outside the classroom, has prepared us for whatever comes next.
Class of 2026, we made it to the finish line. No matter where life takes us after this, we will always share the experience of BLS, and that is something I will always be grateful for.

Thank you all for everything!
Annabelle Ahearn

Secretary
Vanessa Vu

I cannot believe we’re here. From sending you guys so many random emails to yelling at you all on the seniors’ Instagram stories, I dreaded the day THAT I would deliver you guys my last message. I will always be endlessly grateful to have been a representative of our senior class. To think about how small we were as sixies to now be able to say “congrats!” to all of you on your college commitments is a surreal experience that I always imagined was so far away.
I owe so much of my livelihood to the team that worked with me this year.
To my Trez, Annabelle:
You are the sunshine that fills up a room. Anyone reading this can agree with me that you have the best energy out of anyone they know. I was already friendly with you before this year, but getting to know you better through this role has been such a privilege. You have a beautiful and sweet soul that I know will carry you to great places.
To my VP, Kenneth:
Having known you for almost nine years of my life, it feels so complete to be spending my last year of high school working alongside someone who has been there since day one. I will never forget the years upon years of memories we’ve had together, capped off with some of the best from working with you as a class officer. Your wittiness, jokes and charm enhanced every single one of our meetings and calls, and I am so honored to have you as one of my best friends.
To my Pres, Jacob:
I hope you never lose your grit and leadership. To see you facilitate so many events and offer insight and feedback on all of our ideas has been super special; you embody the role of a true leader. Thank you for dealing with our six or seven jokes every meeting and for spewing your crazy ideas whenever you get the chance (loved the Brawl Stars tourney by the way).
To our advisors, Ms. E and Ms. Sarkis:
You are simply the best. I remember being super nervous when meeting you both for the first time, but I have been so honored to have cultivated the best relationships with the two of you over the months, and I hope you can say the same. You do so much behind the scenes work that you deserve more recognition for, and I hope the next set of officers will see that too (even though they will never be better than us).
To the rest of my class:
Thank you. Thank you a million times over. Despite the turmoil of being a student at Boston Latin School, I can say with so much certainty that the people will make me miss it more than anything. Thank you guys all so much for your encouragement, feedback and support. The new friendships I’ve made this year and the love I have fostered for you all is something I will be bringing with me into college.
You guys will never be strangers to me, and I hope to see you all again one day! <3

From your secretary,
Vanessa Vu