I didn't want to be so behind so close to my one year mark, but so it goes, I guess.
I don't normally cry at graduation, but this year, I did. You see, every year the teachers at my school are required to "work" graduation in some capacity. My job is easy -- I walk out in a black graduation robe and I sit with the graduates. Easy peasy.
Photo: Corbis Images
This year, I was paying more attention than usual. When I saw the grads walk out, I noticed how many of them looked down. I wanted to yell at them to look up and to capture all that was around them in that moment. But of course, I didn't. I watched instead. Girls, with too high of heels, walking like Frankenstein. Boys, trying to be cool....or at least capture the essence of what they believe to be cool.
The speeches were read, applause, applause, applause.
Then the calling of the names.
One by one, graduates graduate. Each time I heard a familiar name, I clapped, hands high above my head...a tear falling. I am happy they did it. I am a proud teacher in this moment.
As we end graduation, teachers form a tunnel that the graduates walk down in the middle of. Mina, a former student, sees me, and runs up to hug me. She thanks me for everything and tells me she loves me. I tell her congratulations and that I love her back. I can't control my tears at this moment. I'm just so proud of her.
Graduation...it was a great day.
Prompt: When was the last time you attended a graduation? Who graduated? What did you observe?