Musings of a Wandering Soul: ConGRADulations Class of 2014!

Graduation. The light at the end of the tunnel after 13 years of hard work, sleepless nights, and endless piles of homework and projects. This celebration of one piece of the puzzle known as life is carried out in a variety of ways. Normally, there's a ceremony, speakers, diplomas, and flying caps. All of these symbolize the end of one era (high school, undergraduate, Master's, Doctorate) and the beginning of another. For 22 of the students that attend EdVenture Charter School, this all came true last Friday.

Friday, June 6th marked the official end of the school year at EVCS. As the pending graduates filed into the Event Room at the Intracoastal Park, nervous tension filled the air. Family, friends, and teachers lined the walls and filled the seats waiting for this monumental day. In order to graduate from EVCS with an Option 2 diploma, students need to complete at least 630 hours of on the job experience at a local business. They have to complete all of the required paperwork, time sheets, and testing before donning that cap and gown.

The ceremony was short and sweet. I kicked it off with a few opening remarks, congratulating the graduates on their ability to overcome adversity and do what many people thought they couldn't. Then the keynote speaker challenged the students to continue being successful by remembering that they are smart and deserve the absolute best out of life. Each graduate was then presented with their diplomas/certificate of completion, which was a joyous moment for all.

The last part of the ceremony was definitely the most emotional. Each graduate was given a rose which they were able to give to anyone in the room that had supported them through their life/last few years of schooling. Many of these roses went to family members and teachers. One of my students that I had gave it to his two-year-old daughter. When he was at school, he had asked me to help him learn how to read so that he could read his daughter bedtime stories - I almost lost it when he handed her his rose.

After the ceremony, food was devoured, pictures were snapped, and the graduates went on their way. This year at EVCS has been a life changing one for sure. I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing students and staff that truly do love what they do (...most days). I can't wait to take all that I have learned from this year with me to Colombia and be able to apply it with my new students that I'll have for the next two years.