Graduation was almost a month ago and finally I feel at ease with the summer way of life, early morning rides with my horse, breakfast with my children and then our adventures: playing at the lake, flying kites, rolling down hills, maybe searching for bugs. How I got to this slower way of life from the nuttiness of the school years end is lost on me. In a month I went from boarding school busy, to crazed woman attempting to complete all of the projects put off during the school year, to stay at home mother enjoying her children. Working out of school mode is a process, but now that it is finished I have the opportunity to reflect on my school year and graduation day is what has been pulling at my recent thoughts.
Our graduation is held on a beautifully manicured lawn spotted with large maple and oak trees, set before century old brick buildings. It is a perfect setting to say goodbye to the students I have helped grow. They sit row after row in green and white robes wrapped in feelings of joy, sadness, hope and fear. The same feelings sit with me as I listen to the student speeches encouraging listeners to take risks, and live out dreams.
I am reminded to find joy in the moments of life, and to feel hope that I can accomplish my own dreams. Each graduation is a reminder of my own youth and provides me the opportunity to reflect on the paths I have taken. In this reflection fear and sadness flame as I remember the challenges I have faced since my own graduation from high school. I worry about the future of the graduates waiting in anticipation for their diplomas. Many of them may not be prepared for the challenges they will be confronted with. Many of them may not be prepared to attend college and would have benefited from programs that prepare high school students for a career after graduation.
I am reminded to find joy in the moments of life, and to feel hope that I can accomplish my own dreams. Each graduation is a reminder of my own youth and provides me the opportunity to reflect on the paths I have taken. In this reflection fear and sadness flame as I remember the challenges I have faced since my own graduation from high school. I worry about the future of the graduates waiting in anticipation for their diplomas. Many of them may not be prepared for the challenges they will be confronted with. Many of them may not be prepared to attend college and would have benefited from programs that prepare high school students for a career after graduation.
I think the point of obtaining an education is to be empowered. This empowerment needs to take place during high school and college should be a place where a student is able to demonstrate his or her power and expand on it. College should be a chosen path not the next step as it is for students at my school, a college preparatory school, where every student is expected to attend college after graduation, prepared or not.
The 2011 graduates have been gone for a month and as I am working through these thoughts I recognize that I have legitimate concerns about education, and how my school prepares students, but I realize that my worry is also about letting go of people I care about. I am reminded to have faith that they will each find success.
