Con-GRAD-ulations!

Hello all,

The seniors graduated on Thursday. I had spent the previous few weeks emailing them, just checking in on them, asking about how finals went, and telling them that I was “looking forward to seeing them” at commencement.
Thursday was a whirlwind of activity. I had taken off from work so I could go to the ceremony and there was so much I had to do before I’d head off to the ceremony. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I stubbed my toe really good. I felt a crack and knew instantly, when my toe wouldn’t stop throbbing and was swollen, that I had broken it. I iced it for 30 min. before carefully wrapping it in a home-made DIY splint. I wanted to wear heels but with a broken toe, it didn’t seem likely. Luckily, my flats were comfortable. I wasn’t going to let a hurt toe prevent me from seeing my younguns graduate. It would be the last time I’d see them and I wanted to pay them homage and take some pictures.

I went upstairs to the skywalks where my students were congregated prior to filing into the theatre at the college where the ceremony would be held. They were all really surprised, and for the most part, happy to see me there. I took a number of pictures, hugged a lot of them, tried to avoid my male students who weren’t content with a one-armed hug, and chatted with them. My kids looked so handsome and beautiful in their dressy formal wear. They looked so grown-up and deep inside of me, I thought, you helped them get to this point.

One of my female students who I never really got along with in study group, came up to me and thanked me for coming to graduation. I was touched-- the past didn’t matter anymore, we had both learned some hard lessons over the semester, and now we were civil. That made me satisfied-- we took a picture together.

When it handed in my ticket to be admitted into the theatre, I got what could be called “VIP” treatment. I was led to my seat which was in a separate section. There were 20-something seats roped off and soon I was joined by 4 other administrators from the university system who in some way worked with the seniors. One the ceremony began, I was one proud student teacher and cheered for my students as they filed in. I clapped and clapped until my hands got numb.

My CT was seated on stage along with the principal, college faculty, and the college’s president. While he never got a chance to speak, the HS principal gave him kudos for his work. When the faculty was asked to stand, several of my students turned to me and whispered furiously, “Stand up!” I shook my head at them. I wasn’t on payroll-- I wasn’t affiliated with the HS. But I appreciated the gesture, they considered me to be an influential teacher after all.

Two students were nominated to address the class. I’m delighted to say that I worked with those two students in study groups-- and I approved of the class’ choice of the speaks. The topics were poignant without being cliché and I was riveted-- I’m so proud of my students. They are so amazing. We had a 99% college acceptance rate, and a third of the class will be attending Hunter College (most of them on scholarship).

I stood by my CT and his colleague after the ceremony ended, we greeted the students and hugged them. I felt a part of something wonderful. The students thanked me for my effort and one of my more difficult male students told me, “Thanks for giving me hell all semester.” Mind you, he'd never do work when I'd assign it or he'd purposely do it wrong to get a rise out of me. How things can change over 4 months . .

I felt, if possible, even happier when one of my students (who was a real hot mess) came over to me and hugged me. She had refused to go to graduation because of issues she had with many of the teachers back at the hs. I had tried to persuade he to go, but my CT told me that he had tried to talk her into going for months and she stubbornly refused. Now, here she was-- exceptionally late but looking poised and glowing. One of my students snapped a picture of me, the student, my CT, and his colleague. We look whole, happy, complete. That is how I feel-- 48 hrs after the ceremony.