Thunderous cheers and joyful tears flood the towering tall nave of the historic Riverside Church. The legacies of Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, and Nelson Mandela are visible as people gather in the same hall they have spoken in. Filling the front aisles are honored 8th graders, clad in regal blue gowns and golden stoles.
It’s graduation day.
With beaming smiles and teary eyes, proud families and teachers sit behind the students. All of us were swept away by the whirlwind of pride and love toward the teenagers we’d nurtured so dearly throughout middle school. I applaud and wave to now-former students, choking back tears from the significance of the moment, the immeasurable celebration, and the power that graduation holds.
In my 3 years of teaching, this was the first graduation for students I’ve taught.
My own high school graduation was a hot Texas day in early June, filled with ceremonies to acknowledge the accomplishments made by the class of 2016.
This graduation was different than my own, or those of friends I’ve attended.
These students, when I met them at the beginning of their 7th-grade year, were kids still trying to figure themselves out. Now, seeing them as true teenagers, with their own unique voices, passion, and confidence, I am in awe of the tradition of graduation.
Beyond the Cap and Gown
Keynote graduation speeches generally follow the formula of,
Be kind to others. Follow your dreams because life is too short. Don’t give up and stay true to yourself.
I remember sitting in the pew, gazing at classmates all in the same blue cap and gown, wondering where life will take all of us next, and what the future might look like. Listening to the speeches felt like imploring a deep unknown.
After the ceremony, where I was handed my diploma with a handshake and threw the blue cap into the air, life took me 1,800 miles from home. I packed up and moved to attend Penn State University in the fall, not knowing a single soul, the geography, or the culture of the Northeast U.S., but knowing it was a risk worth taking.
Seven years after my high school graduation, I moved to New York City to teach. Witnessing my first in-person class grow into young adults, empowered and ready to embark on their next adventure, was an incredible moment. The lessons of graduation took on a new meaning as I prepare to embark on my own adventure outside of the classroom.
Inspiration In Starting Over
While teenage Claire struggled to find power in the typical graduation sendoffs, adult Claire found so much more comfort in the remarks.
Be kind to others. Follow your dreams because life is too short. Don’t give up and stay true to yourself.
There’s so much inspiration when choosing to celebrate life as it comes and goes. To celebrate all the difficult moments and take pride in the wins. A special sense of shared joy takes place when we choose to celebrate life as we move through it.
What would you say to a group of middle or high school students, who are starting their next chapter? What would you want to say to your younger self when graduating 8th grade, or 12th grade, knowing what you know now?
Mine might look a little like this:
It is going to be great! Don’t you see, how all of these things are coming together for you? Be kind, be yourself, and continue to reflect and grow as a person. Take a couple of deep breaths. Don’t be afraid to dive in. Keep creating. You can always do something new, and start over. You got this. You’re doing great. You’re brave. You’re enough.
It’s exactly what I still say to myself as I move into this new chapter of my life, with my teaching experience under my belt. Congratulations, I made it!
Let’s continue to hold space for ourselves to acknowledge our own accomplishments and be proud of the courage it took to get to this point. It can be big or small actions, what matters is that we show up every day and do the best we can do. We can always start over.
Find the community you can celebrate starting over with. Joy shared is joy sustained.
We are all a part of the 2023 graduating class. Congratulations on our accomplishments! Our next chapter is going to be amazing and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish!