We attended two graduations in the past few weeks. One with over 200 students graduating high school, the other with 29 students receiving their GED. Both were attended by family, friends, and well wishers. Both were composed of graduates glad to be through with the requirements and relieved at completing this part of their life's journey, graduates in both wore caps, gowns and huge smiles.
Students at both ceremonies had faced adversity. Some came from a homeless environment, some fought drugs and alcohol - either themselves or dealt with it in their families, some struggled to comprehend the material they needed to master, others breezed through barely cracking a book. Some were financially comfortable, others barely had food on the table. Most of us really don't know what goes on behind closed doors.
Speakers at both ceremonies spoke of the future, the possibilities, they tasked the graduates with going forward and finding their dreams. One ceremony included the class valedictorians giving short speeches, the other gave each student a few minutes to speak. Each, in their own way, recognized the hard work, the effort, the desire, by the graduates to reach this milestone.
Was one ceremony better than the other? No, they were both a celebration of the graduates, a recognition of their accomplishments, an affirmation that by hard work and perseverence, success was obtainable. We enjoyed both ceremonies, celebrated the accomplishments of the graduates and wish only the best for all of the graduates.
The ceremony that touched my heart the most, was the Godman Guild GED graduation. As each graduate was called to receive their diploma, a few words were spoken about each person - then the graduate made a few comments. Each of these folks, for one reason or another, had dropped out of high school and did not graduate with their class. Some had no choice - their home life did not permit them to continue with school, some simply did not fit into the academic environment, some did not think school was important when they were teens - the reasons vary but the end result was the same, they all became high school drop outs. The class of 2009 beat the odds, they went from drop outs to graduates. One of the graduates said "I'm so proud of myself today." I didn't know her, but I too am proud of her accomplishment. So was everyone who attended. Watching all of these young people bask in well deserved success was a pleasure.
The 2009 graduates at both ceremonies have a right to be proud, they all set a goal to graduate and they all succeeded. Congratulations!
