I began writing this post on the morning I was supposed to take a personal day. On the day of my own convocation. This may sound crazy, but I dressed up in a cap and gown and walked across my lawn to commemorate the occasion.
I felt guilty about being sad; the world right now is mourning issues of great importance and there is so much turmoil and injustice. And yet, I am sad because I can truly empathize with the class of 2020. My daughter who was supposed to have her prom last week and who is also supposed to walk across the stage at the end of the month and I had a conversation about it. She actually didn’t care that she missed prom as much as she feels like walking across that stage is way more important to her. We talked about why graduation feels like more of a loss than prom does and how much she feels a sense of accomplishment and sadness at the way things turned out.
I spent longer than most people working on my Masters of Curriculum and Technology. Because of a concussion, I had to skip almost an entire year, unable to be on a computer for an extended period of time and unable to concentrate or study. I also moved from taking courses to working on a project which became a thesis which added an additional semester to my completion and was admittedly one of the most challenging things I have done in my professional life. Learning has never come easy for my daughter either. She had to work harder for what came easier, more naturally to her sister. I am proud of her perseverance and super sad because she feels like with everything wrong with the world right now, that she doesn’t really have a right to be sad. My heart breaks for her; for the many losses the Class of 2020 has faced.
I know that there have been some beautiful moments shared and wonderful tributes planned; I spearheaded a special celebration for our own school for our grade 12s on the night which was supposed to be their prom. Many students and families reached out sharing how important it was for them and their child and how much they appreciated the efforts of our planning team. I literally cried with each email. I am grateful to Ontario Tech University for planning a virtual celebration and messages for us.
I know that so many schools have gone out of their way to make graduating students feel valued. But for many students, their graduation, what they had been looking forward to and working towards for four years will not happen until maybe the Fall or the Spring, and many other schools haven’t really planned anything at all. Still others are living in situations where their families cannot afford a lawn sign or a special outing; where there is too much trauma to recognize an achievement that in the life of a young person is so very significant.
You may have already seen this video of a graduation parade (I saw it when my friend, George Couros shared it on Twitter). In it, a high school senior is brimming with pride. The backstory was chronicled by NewsChannel 5:
Dontrail Spencer is being filmed in the passenger seat as he clutches his diploma from Pearl Cohn High School and screams out the names of his teachers and administrators who helped him along the way, telling them with pride, “I graduated!”
One teacher in particular, a Ms. Gleason, caused him to get out of the car for a long embrace, tossing all social distancing to the wind.
“It was just an emotional day for me, to see myself graduate, I never thought I’d see myself in a cap and gown with a big diploma in my hand,” Spencer told NewsChannel 5. “It was emotional. I didn’t know what to say. I was speechless. All I could do was shed tears of joy, that was all I did.”
The video was posted to Facebook by Rasheedat Fetuga, president of Gideon’s Army, an organization that works to keep kids off of the streets. Fetuga worked with Spencer throughout his high school career, and Spencer credited the organization with helping him get to graduation, saying, “I could’ve been like any other kid on the streets.”
His mom, Tamika Hawkins, can be heard shouting from the back seat and saying through tears, “I’m so proud of you, Dontrail.”
I have probably watched it 20 times and cry every time. It beautifully captures the joy, the pride, and the impact teachers make.
So if you know a Class of 2020 grad, and it’s in your sphere of influence to do something special for them, please do it: it doesn’t have to cost anything: a short video message, cookies, a homemade card, a painted rock). It can never replace what they’ve lost, but I know they so appreciate it. If you have a child who is a part of the Class of 2020, acknowledge the loss and talk about the many moments of struggle and success.
And if you are a teacher and your school year is coming (or is coming) to a close, never forget what an impact we can have on the lives of our students.
Cheers to the Class of 2020 and all who have touched their lives and helped them to get there!
Jen
PS This video by Roz Weston (thanks Ann Brand for your celebrity connections) was played just before the dance portion of our special event. I really appreciated his message for our students.