05/18/2026
To all of the graduating seniors from Wilmington, Minooka, Channahon, Joliet, Bradley, Kankakee, Coal City, nearby colleges, and beyond… this one is for YOU. 🎓💛
No matter what you’re feeling right now: excited, nervous, overwhelmed, proud, scared, relieved, uncertain, hopeful; Every single emotion that comes with this diploma is valid. Graduation is such a huge milestone, and with it comes so many feelings all at once.
To all of the seniors:
I am SO proud of you. Truly. You may not even know me personally, but please know I am cheering you on wholeheartedly. Looking at all of you crossing stages, taking senior photos, celebrating with friends and family… it brings me right back to graduating almost 10 years ago with the Class of 2018.
High school was more than just classes and grades. During these last four years, you were discovering yourselves while balancing schoolwork, sports, activities, friendships, jobs, future plans, expectations, pressure, heartbreaks, accomplishments, and all of the normal teenage chaos that comes with growing up. That is A LOT for anyone to carry and you did it!
YOU earned this diploma.
YOU made it through the hard days.
YOU kept going even when things felt uncertain.
And parents… this milestone belongs to you in so many ways too. Watching your babies grow into young adults is emotional, beautiful, exciting, and bittersweet all at once. Thank you for being their support system, their encouragement, their ride to practice, their late-night pep talks, and their safe place throughout all of these years. You deserve to celebrate too. 💛
To the Class of 2026:
Take the pictures. Wear the cap and gown proudly. Hug your people a little tighter. Be excited for your future, even if you don’t have every answer yet. None of us truly did at 18.
You are going to do amazing things. ✨
And to the upcoming Class of 2027 seniors… senior session season is officially here 👏🎓
Oh My Goad Photography is now booking senior sessions and I would absolutely LOVE to help capture this unforgettable chapter of your story.