In Palau, there are 16 public elementary schools and only one public high school. The high school is in Koror, the only real city in Palau. It is customary for the child to live with relatives in the capitol city to finish their education.
My graduate had to say goodbye to the only school she has known for whole life. Say goodbye to her life-long friends and say goodbye to the family that raised her in Angaur. When I asked her to explain how she felt in a writing assignment about graduating and moving on in life, she only wrote one word; bittersweet.
The whole school congratulating the graduate.
The special cake, just for her (the bakery misspelled "Angaur")
The graduate with the old and new principal of Angaur Elementary