Every year, a member of the senior class writes and delivers a class poem at Commencement, reflecting their high school experience and thoughts and feelings on graduating from Berkeley. This year’s Class Poet was Margaret Nelson ’26.

Nelson’s poem reflects on her time at Berkeley and how she and her classmates have grown since freshman year. Her poem continues to describe Berkeley as special not only for its buildings and pavement, but also for its people and community. 

“I think what I will remember most is not Berkeley as a place, but Berkeley as a people,” said Nelson.

The poem truly reflects the unity of the Class of 2026. Nelson describes the sense of community she felt during her senior year – through classmates, teachers, coaches, and friends – and how Berkeley became her second home. 

Her poem closes by recognizing everyone’s different paths following Commencement. She states that they will all go off and do unique things; however, their time at Berkeley will always be something special they share: “Then maybe one day, somewhere far from here / we will look back / and realize that this was never the end of something. / Only the first proof / that we were ready.”

To read Nelson’s poem, click here.