Graduation was tonight, and I heard the two best graduation speeches ever by our speakers. Seeing these kids graduate who generally wouldn't if our school wasn't around, is inspiring. Every student has a story that will break your heart, be it teenage pregnancy, juvenile detention, homelessness, abuse, cancer, emigration to the U.S., drug problems....the list of obstacles our students face is immense. To be witness [and sometimes participant] to such a gigantic accomplishment is an honor. It makes going back to work on those really hard days worth it.
And sometimes a former student gives all her teachers a rose!
