GRADUATION 2026 – THANK YOU FOR TWO AND THREE WONDERFUL YEARS!

At last, the day had arrived. On Friday, 26 June, under the blazing Danish summer sun, all 392 graduates gathered at Birkerød Sports Hall for Birkerød Gymnasium’s graduation ceremony. The scene was truly spectacular: a sea of red, blue, and international graduation caps, surrounded by proud families, teachers, and beech branches. Just as it should be.

As tradition dictates, the ceremony opened with the graduates’ procession to BG’s own graduation anthem, "This Is the Day", written and composed by mathematics teacher Andrew Archer and English and Religious Studies teacher Stine Helth. Following the procession, Acting Principal Helene Lindemann welcomed the graduates and their guests before the entire hall joined together in singing the classic Danish hymn "Danmark, nu blunder den lyse nat".

In her address,Helene Lindemann reflected on the challenges that have shaped this year’s graduating class, including the rapid changes brought about by a world transformed by artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, she encouraged students to seek out genuine encounters with the unknown experiences that create resonance and allow us to be truly present in the world:

“Resonance is what happens when an encounter with something, or someone, moves us deeply. When something speaks to us in a way that makes us want to explore a particular corner of the world a little further. When an experience changes us, however slightly, so that neither we nor the world seem quite the same afterwards. It might be a breathtaking view that gives us goosebumps, a piece of music at a concert that brings tears to our eyes, or a smile and a chance encounter with another person that makes our heart beat a little faster.”

With the graduates officially sent off, this year's student speaker, Georg Steno Stange from class 3k, took to the podium with a speech that resonated deeply with the many graduates in attendance and was met with great enthusiasm. Georg gave voice to the many thoughts and uncertainties about the future facing the newly graduated students, emphasizing the importance of holding on to a sense of community and allowing oneself time in a world that moves far too fast. Time to reflect, and time to find the community that lifts you up. A heartfelt thank you to Georg for his moving speech.

After a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne", scholarships were awarded, followed by the first of two musical performances. The 3g band performed Dr. Dog’s "Where Did All the Times Go", setting the stage for one of the ceremony’s most significant moments: the presentation of diplomas. One by one, all 392 graduates received their certificates, marking the culmination of two or three years of hard work, friendship, and personal growth.

The IB band then performed Billy Joel’s "Vienna", and the ceremony concluded with the entire audience joining together for Alberte’s beloved "Lyse Nætter". Once again, we waved farewell as you departed in beautifully decorated graduation trucks, setting off into the Danish summer. This year, with forecasts of a heatwave and endless sunshine, summer has truly been at its finest.

Congratulations to each and every one of you, and all the very best for the journey ahead. We leave you with the closing words of Helene Lindemann:

"My hope, dear graduates, is that your time at BG has prepared you for the world. That you are eager to embrace it, to contribute, to create, and to make your mark. I hope you leave here with something that the world can touch, so that resonance can arise. I hope you experience many unpredictable moments as you encounter new people, new ideas, and the unknown. Because it is in those moments that we are touched by something that makes both life and the world feel larger.”

Thank you all, and thank you for two and three wonderful years.

Text written by Anna Overballe Photo: Kasper Hellesøe