Working on graduation these past three weeks brought back a lot of memories from my 2016 graduation. For the first time since then, I attended (virtually) this year’s graduation. Dad always wrote the graduation story, if there was one, so I didn't attend. After attending this year’s, I don’t plan to miss another graduation ceremony anytime soon.
It was fun, the whole thing. I loved the speeches and raw emotion. Unlike 2016, there was no sadness this time, just another feeling, one I cannot find the words for. All I can think about is what I was told my senior year. “Graduation isn’t for you. It’s for everyone else. The community watched you grow your entire life. They are watching the culmination of that when you graduate.”
The context behind that quote was to stress the importance of getting as many details as right as possible for our special day. We did, after all, only get one graduation.
I wrote that last line and immediately remembered that, last year, there were essentially two graduation ceremonies because of the pandemic. Looking back at last year’s paper, I don’t understand why the kids who graduate don’t throw their caps in the air. I get it, it’s hard to find them afterwards, but it sure makes for a great moment and an even better photo.
When I said I enjoyed all of graduation, I didn’t just mean the ceremony. Putting together the graduation section, although incredibly stressful, is incredibly rewarding. Creating the photo page, showing off the celebration and ceremony is fun. Writing the story and analyzing the speeches was fun.
I am incredibly blessed to have the job I do. Putting those photo pages together, I imagine, is as enjoyable for me as a kid who colors a coloring book.
If someone told younger me that this would be my job, I’d tell that person I won the lottery.
P.S. I think I now understand where Bob gets all these P.S.s’ from. I thought of something later and couldn’t really interrupt my previous writing. I want to thank all of the people who helped make our graduation pages possible. Specifically, Deb Bently for her tireless work. As well as Dan Petsinger for his live streaming of the event. Dan did a great job. The sound quality was excellent and there were a lot of camera angles. It felt like I was there.
There are more people that deserve thanks, but Deb (and Reed) were the ones who spent hours helping make sure all the graduation information in the paper was correct. A special thanks to Teri and Sue at the school. They helped Deb, help me, help the newspaper.
P.S.S. Thank you Jean and all the kindergarten teachers for your help identifying the kindergarten graduates. Also, thank you Judy for providing excellent softball photos!