To the sound of favorite songs, with balloons in their hands and emotion in their eyes, the graduating students said goodbye to the place that had been their second home for five years.
The ceremony began exactly at 11:00 a.m. on 12 May, and the hosts Neli from class 9.E and Stefan from class 9.Zh welcomed students, teachers, parents, and guests to the celebration. The twelfth-graders and their homeroom teachers were greeted with applause as they took their places on the steps in front of the school building.
The school flag was welcomed with special solemnity to the sound of a drum march, and the anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria united everyone in a moment of pride and gratitude.
“Today is a special, different, and extraordinary day for you,” were the words addressed to the graduates – words about farewell, friendship, first victories, and the lessons that remain for a lifetime.
An emotional highlight of the ceremony was the speech by the principal of the National Commercial High School, Nikolay Mitev. He congratulated the graduates on their perseverance and achievements and wished them courage in following their dreams, becoming достойни people, and never forgetting the school from which they are setting off toward the new stage of their lives. The principal urged the young people to preserve their faith in themselves and to carry with them the values they had learned at NTG.
The festive atmosphere was enriched by musical greetings from Vasilena Karamandzhukova from class 11.B and Ivan Nazlamov, who moved those present. Especially emotional were also the words of the graduates, who thanked their teachers and classmates for the shared years, friendships, and support.
At the end of the ceremony, wishes were expressed for the Class of 2026 to move bravely into the unknown, but never to forget the people and the place from which they started.
According to old Bulgarian tradition, Principal Nikolay Mitev poured water for luck and a successful journey for the graduates, and dozens of balloons flew into the sky – a symbol of the dreams, hopes, and freedom awaiting them.
The celebration ended with the folk dance club, led by Silviya Stoyanova at the National Commercial High School, who led everyone into a Bulgarian horo – a symbolic bridge between roots, traditions, and a new beginning.
With smiles, tears, and much applause, NTG sent off its Class of 2026 – young people ready to follow their own path, but forever connected to the school where they grew up.
