Every test has a final question. Every book has a last page. Every academic year closes, and every student ends their term. For some, graduation is that light at the end of the tunnel, the finality of one’s time as a UC Berkeley student.

And what a tunnel it’s been. From hazardous air quality ratings to PG&E-mandated power shut-offs to the pandemic that has virtually changed our final finals week, many of us have seen our paths affected, and we have persevered through the unknown. We grew up from Cal Day visitors to campus tour guides, from undeclared majors to student instructors, from fearful cubs to Golden Bears.

It’s time to celebrate the end of our journey — with our family, over the phone with our friends and together at our makeup commencement ceremony. It’s time to step out of the tunnel and into the light.