Today was graduation at Fern. It's probably one of the best days of the year. On this day, you forget all the pain these students have caused and celebrate their accomplishments.
I was honored to be chosen as the commencement speaker this year. I was able to say at least a sentence about each graduate--it was pretty cool.
This year, it was outside, under a tent. We couldn't have had a better day if we had ordered it ourselves.
Oh, I guess, after looking at the previous post, I had not informed the "readers" that I am in the process of interviewing at North High School for the job of assistant principal. I made it through the screening round and had my second interview on Thursday. I think it went well; it just depends on what they are looking for in an administrator. If I left Fern to be an administrator, days like today are the ones I would miss the most.
Fern's graduation is different from most high school graduations in a good way. At my high school, today, 36 students graduated. It was a beautiful thing. I think probably in most small towns, graduation is a very formal event, even if the school is small. It's one of the few times all the pomp and circumstance happen.
In the heart of west St. Louis County, the pomp and circumstance (or maybe dog and pony show) happen everyday. The upper-middle class suburbs try to show their status with formalities every day. But not at my school.
We are an anomaly. The kids at my school are the ones, who, for one reason or another, just couldn't get it together at the big, comprehensive high school. The pretend world of making a great impression and not being yourself didn't appeal to them. Instead, they come to our school to be themselves--warts and all. So our graduation ceremony is a bit different. There is a little pomp and circumstance, but mostly there are a lot of proud parents (and students) who weren't sure graduation day would ever come. There is a lot of celebrating. There is a lot of honoring the graduates.
Fern Ridge is a special place.
...and yet...
I can check off one more day on the countdown!
3 comments:
I just read your speech for graduation...I thought it was awesome and I can totally relate...some kids just have a way of getting to you...each one has a likeable quality even when we have to look hard sometimes to fine one.
Dana
...that would be "find" one...
Thanks, Dana. With Fern being so small, it wasn't difficult to say a little something about each of them. Even though they can be infuriating, ya' gotta' love 'em!
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