“Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do.”
― C.S. Lewis
Her face still wet with tears, the Junior girl smiled at me and handed back my yearbook. While I was collecting signatures, memories, and sentiments from students after the graduation ceremony was over, underclassmen were saying goodbye to the seniors. This was their last chance. Some of them will never see these seniors again, and even if they do, it will be all different. They cry because they love these young adults who have exemplified maturity and leadership. They cry because of the pain of releasing happy memories to the past. They cry because of loss.
This bunch of 60 students holds a lot of memories for me. I started out as a class sponsor last year when they were juniors. We went through the Normandy trip together, surviving the rain and buggy sleeping conditions. We planned and executed class parties together. We went to Rome and spent a week having serious talks on the beach and eating gelato in the warm sunlight. We discussed college, life, and transition. I had the privilege of watching them grow and mature over two years.
And Saturday, June 2 we said goodbye to these young adults.
For me, the day started with a run up to Hoch Blauen, the local mountain. I needed to run out some of my emotions. The view from the top was gorgeous and very much worth the 1 hour 30 minute run uphill!
After a shower and some food, I headed over to the school around 12. I led the choir in their warmup (Suzanne was still sick), and helped corral the capped- and gowned- seniors in the student center. When they were all lined up, I took my seat in the front of the auditorium and watched as all 60 of these special people proceeded in a stately fashion onto the stage for their last formal celebration at BFA.
After the processional, the choir was up first on the program. I nervously pulled out the music stand, stood in front of the choir of watching eyes, with the eyes of all the families and friends of the graduates on my back. The choir sang well. ‘For Good’ from the musical Wicked was an appropriate departure song for the event.
After the choir selection was done, I was able to sit, relax, and enjoy the rest of the program. Director Scott Jones, valedictorian Lucy Kim, and former Vice Principal Micah Powers gave speeches.
Then it was time to hand out diplomas. BFA does this in a meaningful, personal way. Each student stands next to the podium while the director reads a tribute compiled from comments by staff and students. Then they may receive the diploma, cords, and several handshakes.
It’s odd – as a class sponsor, I thought I would be closer with more of the seniors. As it turns out, I have a lot of scattered memories of individual meaningful moments with several of the seniors, but only a few deeper relationships cultivated over time. So put your cursor over the pictures to see my own personal tribute or memory I have of each of the seniors below. These faces hold a history of memories and a future of mysteries.
At the end of a serious ceremony honoring the 60 grads, they celebrate in a unique way. The recessional is their time to have fun!
After the ceremony, it was time for the painful goodbyes to underclassmen. As class sponsors, we had the rest of the evening with the graduates to reminisce, share words of encouragement, and give final hugs (separate post coming soon describing post-grad activities).
Back to the C.S. Lewis quote from the top – Just like Jill Pole in The Silver Chair, these seniors have just entered a new world. They have had their cry, and now they have to decide what to do. Most are going off to college in America, which may feel like a completely new world, like Narnia, both to explore and to fear. Pray for courage as they take these next steps!
