Pomp & Circumstance

Man, it was hot yesterday. I mean, sit on the couch and just sweat kind of hot. I think the actual temperature really wasn't that bad, but since we were only hovering in the high sixties all last week, yesterday's 85 degrees felt much worse. Today is supposed to hit 90. One of the perks of working in a school with no AC is that if the temperatures reaches 90 degrees before noon, we let out early. Needless to say, I'm praying the mercury starts climbing a little faster.

I had a halfway busy weekend. My seniors graduated on Saturday and we had a surprisingly civil and even dignified ceremony. I've gotten used to the chaos that is every single assembly, class meeting or event held here. When I started working here, I remember being surprised and a little offended by the students' and parents' apparent inability to be quiet and respectful during an assembl- or to arrive on time. So, on Saturday, I was happy that we could actually hear the keynote speaker and the valedictorian.

I tend to forget what a big moment your high school graduation is, and in this school, when so many of their freshman year classmates don't make it to their sophomore, junior, or senior year, walking across the stage to get a diploma becomes that much more of an achievement. I remember feeling like I deserved all the attention I got when I graduated from high school. After all, I had worked hard. True, some of these students have done the bare minimum to get by, which in this school system isn't much, and I question the validity of the diploma they've "earned", but many of my students have worked harder than I ever did and have fought battles no teenager should ever have to fight to finish high school and go on to college and these are the kids I love to watch walk across the stage. They are truly entitled to the attention they got on Saturday. God, I hope they all make it through college, too.