Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
Commencement Doesn’t Mean “The End”
It’s common for someone to mention that “commencement” doesn’t mean the end of anything; it’s actually defined as “a beginning or start.” If you’ve attended a graduation ceremony at any point in your life, you probably heard the Dean, superintendent, principal, or valedictorian remind the graduates that it’s just the beginning of the next chapter of their lives.
September 7, 2007 was a rainy morning and my wife was up early and had her camera ready. It was Ryan’s first day of kindergarten. As my son and his third-grader sister, Riley, posed that day for photos that would become a tradition on the first day of school, it’s hard to imagine we would have been thinking much further than Ryan making it through that first day.
All the Way from “K Through 12”
Fast forward 4,644 days to yesterday and it’s all over. 12 years, 8 months, and 18 days after walking into Windermere Elementary School as a bright-eyed, freckled-faced kid, Ryan graduated from Upper Arlington High School as a soft-spoken, wide-eyed young man.
There have been lots of memories, funny stories, and crazy adventures along the way. Having an older sister leading the way through the school district didn’t hurt because it gave Ryan some “soft introductions” to the teachers and classes that he would face down the road and it certainly helped Ronda and I know a little more of what to expect.
Youth sports like soccer and basketball were on Ryan’s resume but didn’t last long. Baseball took center stage from the tee-ball days to travel ball with The Sharks, and spots on the 7th and 8th-grade teams at Hastings Middle School. That was also was when Ryan got the golf bug and he earned spots on the Hastings team and would go on to play all four years in high school, including co-captaining his Senior season.
Coming Soon – A Fresh Start in StarkVegas
With plans to attend Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi in the fall and major in their Professional Golf Management program, all Ryan had left was to finish up his senior year and graduate. And then came COVID-19 and changed everyone’s plans. After Spring Break, Ryan and his fellow classmates never attended another class or event in the high school again. Their classes went on-line, prom and Senior tag were canceled and graduation was finally ruled out. The Class of 2020 had earned their caps and gowns but had no place to receive their diplomas and revel in the pomp and circumstance.
Seeking some way to celebrate this group of students, the school and city administrators came up with the idea of a Senior Parade to be held on the morning that was reserved for their Graduation. Instead of traveling 2.4 miles down the road to The Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University for Commencement, the Senior class would ride 2.2 miles through the streets of Upper Arlington for a Senior Parade. Family members, friends, and community members were invited to line the route around the high school and wave, cheer, and congratulate these kids as well as wish them luck on their next big adventures. Many will go on to secondary education at college or university, some will join the military, others will enter the workforce or become entrepreneurs, and some just might travel the world.
The cool thing is, they can do whatever they choose. Their life is just “commencing” so we should all wish them good luck as they start to write the next chapter of their story.
What’s Next for You?
So what is the next thing you will begin or be starting this summer? What’s on your “to-do list”? How will you write the next chapter of your story? Just like Ryan and his classmates, the CoronaVirus pandemic has changed things for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to keep moving forward.
The parade route awaits. Stand up proudly and stick your head through the sunroof and get ready to wave as you roll down the road. There are plenty of relationships still to build, problems to solve, and fun to be had. And trust me, there are people standing along the route cheering you on.
Congratulations Ryan on your graduation from Upper Arlington. I am very proud of your hard work and efforts. I hope you will enjoy your summer and I’m excited to watch you continue your journey in the fall at Mississippi State.
Love, Dad