Excitement and anticipation filled the air at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston on Tuesday, May 19, as Niles North High School seniors eagerly exchanged selfies and last-minute pep talks in the final moments preceding their graduation ceremony.
“I’m a little nervous, I’m in the first three rows to go,” senior Meryam Malou, 18, said with nervous laughter.
Malou told the Pioneer Press she’ll be heading to Oakton Community College next school year, with plans to transfer to the University of Illinois Chicago after two years.
Even though she’ll miss her classmates and the memories made over the past four years at Niles North, Malou, alongside friend and Niles North senior Delila Mora, 18, said come August, they’ll be ready for the next stages of their lives.
Other graduates, like senior Majah Pineda Eiland, 18, are also looking ahead.
“I’m so happy for the future,” Pineda Eiland said. “I’m going to Marquette University and I already know I’m going to enjoy taking physiology classes.”
Pineda Eiland said she hopes to pursue a biological science degree at Marquette, among other ambitions.
“I will miss my friends, though,” she added. “One of my favorite memories [of high school] was going to Chinatown with all my classmates.”
The remarks at the 62nd annual Niles North Commencement Ceremony reflected the mix of the excitement, joy and resilience that defined the Class of 2026.
As Niles North Principal Marlon Felton put it in his speech to the graduating class, “this school year has tested us in ways we could not have imagined.”
“As a school community, we experienced profound loss and deep sadness. These losses have weighed heavily on our school community, and yet, through grief, uncertainty and adversity, this community showed what it truly means to come together.”
Nods to the passing of 17-year-old Niles North senior Sameer Quadri, who drowned last August while swimming in Lake Michigan, were scattered in speeches throughout the evening, reflecting the tragic impact his death had on the entire school community.
“To the Class of 2026, you have shown us courage, you have shown us heart and most importantly, you have shown us what it means to persevere,” Felton voiced to graduates and their families.
“You have left your mark on this school, not only through your accomplishments, but through your character, your resilience, and your spirit. You have truly shown us what it means to be a Niles North Viking.”
Felton added that he hoped seniors will carry the lessons learned about strength and empathy in the years and challenges that lie ahead.
“Life will not always be easy. There will be moments of joy and there will be moments of hardship, but if this year has taught us anything, it is this: you are stronger than you know, you are capable of rising through difficult moments and you do not walk your life alone.”
Seniors Teyyuba Hussain and Ali Merchant were honored with addressing their fellow graduates as the student speakers for the Class of 2026, both echoing themes of their classmates’ courage and fortitude over the last school year and their collective time at Niles North.
“As we prepare to graduate, we’ve all been told that we need to be more independent, but being independent is different than being alone,” student speaker Teyyuba Hussain said.
“You need to be able to find resources and people who can help you through your darkest moments…My hope for the future is that everyone here today will find peace, happiness, and a genuine connection.”
“We’ve learned the value of friends who lift us up, teachers who push us, and the courage to face challenges, even when failure feels inevitable,” fellow student speaker Ali Merchant said during his address to the Class of 2026.
“The memories we made are truly priceless, because years from now we probably won’t remember our quiz grades or GPA down to the decimal point, but we’ll remember the people, the laughs, the inside jokes, the late night study sessions and the moments that made these four years unforgettable.”
“High school was a chapter,” Merchant added, “but not the whole story. Our story is just beginning and I know it will be one of a kind.”
