Dear Graduates,

Congratulations!  You’ve made it through high school!  All of your work has paid off and you are getting a diploma.  You’ll sit and listen to the valedictorian gushes about the wonderful memories you’ve all made together.  You’ll clap as the senior class president regales tales of homecoming and prom.  You’ll role your eyes as the principal talks about the responsibilities of adulthood.  You’re friends and family will cheer when your name is called.  You shake hands with education board and the principal and the assistant principals and you get to finally move that tassel (is it left or right?) to indicate that you have reached a major accomplishment in your life.  You’ll hug your best friend (friends for life) and kiss your significant other (we’ll always be together) and you’ll have an amazing night.

And then you’ll get up the in morning and realize that it’s over.  High school is officially done.  Now what?

It’s an okay feeling to have.  There might be lots of excitement for the future.  There might be some dread that you have no clue what you are going to do with your life.  There might be some anxiety over college or the military or your job.  It’s all perfectly normal things to experience.  As you enjoy your summer and prepare for your future, I hope that you’ll remember the lessons learned from your friends and teachers in high school.

Some friends are worth keeping and some friends are there because of circumstance.  I know it’s hard to hear because BBFs and all.  I’m still friends with a few people from high school, and yes, one of my best friends from high school is still one of my best friends today.  But I rarely talk to other people that I considered close friends in high school.  It’s not because we didn’t care for each other, but we grew up and went separate ways.  I still remember them fondly and see occasional updates on Facebook, but our lives no longer bring us together on a daily basis.  It’s okay to let friends go and make new ones.

Teachers really do care about you.  It might not seem like it, and maybe all teachers don’t care specially about you.  But I’d bet that every single graduate can point to at least one teacher in high school who genuinely cared about you.  That gets more difficult to find as you go into the scary “real world”.  Professors and bosses and drill sergeants are more likely to see you as just another number or responsibility unless you do something to make them see more.  Be involved, introduce yourself, try as hard as you can, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, don’t be afraid to push yourself and show your dedication.  Get to know these people as people, as much as you can, at least.  I mean, don’t cross any lines where you will get kicked out or fired.  Have some boundaries, of course.  My point is, make connections with people and show that you care about what you do.

You will forever be a student.  You might not always be in the halls of a school or sitting at a desk, but keep learning.  Find things your interested in and passionate about and read about it or listen to podcasts about it or watch YouTube videos.  Get involved in local organizations or clubs were you can experience new things.  Travel and experience the world because there are so many things out there that are interesting and cool and fun.

Good luck to you all.  I wish you all the best whatever the future brings you!

Congrats, class of 2016!!

Lessons of Grad Night

I recently chaperoned the senior Grad Night trip to Disneyland.  I did this for two reasons: the students asked me and it’s Disneyland.  I really don’t need an excuse to go to Disneyland.  And it was a fun trip.  I talked to some of my former students, learned of their aspirations after high school, and spent the day wandering the magic kingdom exploring some points that I don’t usually explore.  And, of course, I learned some things.

I had some pretty awesome students!  Walking around the park you see all kinds of young adults, just graduated and ready to face the “real world” with their hopes on their sleeves.  But some of those kids are just plan assholes!  I saw several groups of 18 year-olds being talked to by security for doing something stupid.  And none of those groups where mine.  Mine had fun and enjoyed themselves and completely wore themselves out, but they didn’t ruin the fun for others.  It’s encouraging to see that young people can still enjoy the magic and not destroy that magic for little kids.

Letting go is hard!  I didn’t run this trip, I merely chaperoned.  The two young women who actually organized it did a wonderful job.  But it was hard to watch them do things that I know they should do in a different why.  I’ve done more than my fair share of field trips with students and I have a good idea of how they need to run.  Biting my tongue when they did something differently from what I would have done is difficult.  Partly because, not two days ago, a lot of the this group were my students.  As a teacher, you get so used to being in charge, sometimes it’s difficult to let the nestlings use their wings.

“Teacher mode” doesn’t have a convenient off switch.  This ties into the point above.  I’ve been disciplining these kids for two years now.  I’ve told them what to do and when to do it and “no, you can’t go to the bathroom right now.”  Suddenly, I have absolutely no power or say over these young adults.  They are no longer at the mercy of detentions and referrals.  But that doesn’t mean that I don’t see them that way still.  I’m still their teacher and I still want to tell them how the world works and to be careful and to go after their dreams and work hard.  It doesn’t just turn off.

Graduation is bitter sweet.  Grad Night was awesome!  They let a bunch of seniors run around the park, have music and DJs and dance areas and food.  They give the chaperones their own area in Ariel’s Grotto (which is a fantastic place that has a Princess breakfast meet and greet) with snacks and coffee.  At the end of the night, they have a special World of Color just for the grads.  Then, we hop back on buses and go home.  And they leave.  Some say goodbye, some even gave me hugs, some said they’ll keep in tough.  But the bottom line is that I will never see most of these kids again.  My time with them is gone.  They are moving on to college and careers, new friends and new adventures.  Most of them probably won’t even remember me in a few years.  But that’s okay.  It’s just also a little sad.

I’m going to miss the class of 2014 roaming the halls at school come the fall.  But there will be new students and new moments with the classes of 2015 and 2016.  Juniors I had last year are returning as seniors, ready to be learn and finish high school.  New juniors will join me in chemistry where I do my best to continue making science fun and interesting.

Good luck in the “real world” class of 2014!  I enjoyed getting to know every single one of you.