Post by Benjamin Franklin International School, Barcelona, Spain

This graduation filled our hearts and has made us reflect on our community. On Friday, we held our 12th grade commencement and over the weekend, a parent shared a photo and it made me emotional. Alena, Juliette, and Maite. Long-standing mothers. Different countries, different cultures, different stories. Rwanda, Russia, The Netherlands, Catalonia. The photo was shared to celebrate these families, and it was so much more profound than that. It was a portrait of intercultural understanding and love beyond what we see on the surface. I saw what makes a community like ours beautiful. These women raised their children together, but it was never just about the kids. The kids grew. The families grew. And so did we as a school. All of us learning from each other, becoming part of something greater than ourselves. Not just side by side, but woven together. The same parent also shared a photo of our graduates with our security team with a simple note: "One more picture that says a lot about our school." That is who we are. Five of our staff handed diplomas to their own children on that stage. Our graduates performed during the evening alongside their teachers. Former students and staff came back. This was a full community event, and it showed. Our graduates are heading to every corner of the world. They worked hard, they earned it, and they are heading into this next chapter at some remarkable institutions or on a thoughtfully planned gap year. None of this happens without the people who show up every single day. To our staff, our families, and our graduates: thank you for making BFIS what it is. Congratulations to our incredible Class of 2026. Felicitats. We are proud of each and every one of our students. BFIS will always be their home. Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon. ❤️