So we come to that time of the year when there are numerous graduation ceremonies taking place all over the world. Being a teacher in elementary schools, the ones that I witness the most involve grade 8 students transitioning to high school.
It is touching to see the boys in their bow-ties and the girls in their flouncy dresses, trying to adapt that air of maturity, yet still entwined in those childlike qualities. We enjoy the celebration with them, regardless.
When I see them receiving awards, I think back about my own Creative Writing Award in grade 12 when I was 17. Now, over 30 years later, I still haven’t had anything published. But this does not remove any hope I have about their perspective milestones in the future. I remain confident that the girl who wins the Language Award will get acclaim for her published novel or that the boy who wins the Drama Award will be recognized as an award-winning actor.
We try to stay positive. But bad things happen.
I was talking to my father the other day and he spoke nostalgically about his two best friends from elementary school, both of whom died in their early 20’s.
Yes, people die and people get divorced and people commit criminal acts. There are accidents and miscarriages and job losses and disappointments. And all of these will affect the children I have seen graduate.
But we still remain hopeful. It’s the only thing we can do to prevent us from slipping into depression. It’s what we do to make sense of the world.
So graduate all of you good people and persevere. I wish you the best.
It is touching to see the boys in their bow-ties and the girls in their flouncy dresses, trying to adapt that air of maturity, yet still entwined in those childlike qualities. We enjoy the celebration with them, regardless.
When I see them receiving awards, I think back about my own Creative Writing Award in grade 12 when I was 17. Now, over 30 years later, I still haven’t had anything published. But this does not remove any hope I have about their perspective milestones in the future. I remain confident that the girl who wins the Language Award will get acclaim for her published novel or that the boy who wins the Drama Award will be recognized as an award-winning actor.
We try to stay positive. But bad things happen.
I was talking to my father the other day and he spoke nostalgically about his two best friends from elementary school, both of whom died in their early 20’s.
Yes, people die and people get divorced and people commit criminal acts. There are accidents and miscarriages and job losses and disappointments. And all of these will affect the children I have seen graduate.
But we still remain hopeful. It’s the only thing we can do to prevent us from slipping into depression. It’s what we do to make sense of the world.
So graduate all of you good people and persevere. I wish you the best.