My school does things a little differently than a lot of schools. Our kids get their yearbooks in August. It enables us to include spring events – the Senior Trip to Disney, graduation, and all those other things that matter so much to the kids.
Last night our kids were invited back to school to pick up their yearbooks. The school provided soda and snacks.
I’ll miss the Class of 2017. I had the pleasure of teaching different groups as freshmen, sophomores, a few as juniors, and then a lot as Seniors. I didn’t get to know them all-- there were something like 500 kids in the class-- but I got to know a lot of them.
They were a delightful group of kids. They had a kindness to them that we don’t see in every class. They really enjoyed each other. They accepted that not every kid in the class was going to be exactly the same, and accepted their classmates for the individuals they are. They loved to laugh, and were OK if on occasion they were laughing at themselves. They had no patience for anyone who targeted another kid for laughter.
Graduation is always such a busy day. Last night was a much better opportunity to say goodbye to the Class of 2017. They’ll accomplish great things, and make changes in this world.
I’m honored to have been lucky enough to be a part of their transformation to the adults they’re becoming.