Over the next few weeks, local high school seniors will be prepping for final exams, picking up their yearbooks and practicing for graduation ceremonies.
For some, the full impact of this milestone moment will hit them as they unpack their announcements, caps and gowns, close their books for the last time or say farewell to their teachers. For others, the graduation ceremony itself will serve as the perfect opportunity for reflection as they take those first steps toward the future.
During commencement, students will forego their individuality and don matching caps and gowns to march with their classmates and sit quietly on folding chairs for their brief moment in the spotlight. Underneath they might be sporting a ball gown and heels or shorts and flip flops, but on the surface, they will appear united as the Class of 2012.
They’ll listen to commencement speakers quoting great philosophers like Aristotle, Confucius, Plato and Dr. Seuss. Than they’ll line up as underclass band members continually repeat the notes from their school’s well-worn “Pomp and Circumstance” sheet music.
They’ll listen for their names to be called before walking across the dais to shake the hand of a school administrator. As they approach the outstretched hand, we encourage them to savor those few seconds that represent the educational journey they have taken. As they stride toward their diploma they should take a moment to look around and silently acknowledge the people who have helped them arrive at this place.
This is the time to gratefully acknowledge parents, counselors, teachers and friends. Parents who have nagged them to do their homework or to get out of bed each morning; teachers who saw their potential and wouldn’t settle for anything short of their best; counselors who insisted that they complete their culminating projects and fill out their college applications; and friends who brought laughter and shared experiences that helped to make the whole journey worthwhile.
The other side of that handshake is equally important because it represents the first opportunity to really look at the future. Some will raise their arms in triumph while others may smile quietly in self-satisfaction for a job well done. Whether they’re the valedictorian or barely passed the last essential final, they’ve earned something significant. That diploma is an important stepping stone to their future. For some, that future includes additional years of higher education, for others, a career in the military or a job in their community.
Regardless of the next steps, it’s important to stop and savor this time in their lives.
We tip our mortarboards in congratulations to the Class of 2012.
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