Congratulations to all the graduates in our area! I’ve really enjoyed seeing the photos and reading the comments on social media.
I saw a post on Facebook this week that made me think. It was a meme that said:
“A big shoutout to all the kids who didn’t win an award, make honor roll, and barely made it through the school year. A big hug to the moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers and foster parents that stuck by them as they maneuvered the school year. To the kids that didn’t get invited to the prom, didn’t get a scholarship to college and who perhaps have to go straight to work out of high school…you are still worthy of a pat on the back and a Facebook post with people talking about how amazing you are. Some kids have to work twice as hard as others just to get a “C.” Their achievements deserve recognition. Don’t forget these kids. Kindness, creativity, and generosity…those attributes, sadly, don’t get the accolades they deserve.”
Those words are so true.
I’ve sat at graduation ceremonies where the loooonnggg list of scholarships that students have earned have been read. I have been blessed to cover some amazing student/athletes and mark their achievements on the field or the court. I’ve interviewed Valedictorians and learned their hopes for the future. However, after reading this I found myself wondering how many amazing students I walked right by, never knowing them or what they’re going to achieve.
Much has been written about the famous people who found success even though they dropped out of high school. The list includes Giselle Bundchen, Tom Cruise, Bill Gates and Jay Z. I wonder how many “C” students have made a success out of themselves? And, of course, success doesn’t have to be defined as “billionaires” though that’s what we sometimes tend to do.
I’ve known student/athletes who had to work hard to keep their grades up so they could stay on the team. I’ve met a few “theater kids” who never join anything else but they come alive on stage. We are all so different.
I’m sure you know someone — maybe even you back-in-the-day — who just doesn’t feel like he or she fits in. They never do through the entire high school process. But somehow, they manage to hang in there and graduate. It might have gotten scary at times but they achieve just enough to make it.
I think, as a society, we sometimes look down on those students. “Well if they only tried harder,” or “If they’d just try to fit in!” Some might look back years later and think that they should have done things differently. Others realize that they did the best they could at the time. It’s not possible for us to know what’s going on in their family life, personal life, or if they just learn differently from the honor roll crowd.
Today though, let’s just celebrate! You made it! With everything going on and the struggles you faced — you made an accomplishment that you might have doubted would ever happen. Build on that and let’s see where you go from here!
Catch up on past Sunday Columns by clicking here.
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