The Journey


















This is a special moment
A time for congratulations,
You’ve worked so hard and so right now.
Savor this, your celebration.

 We look back on the past four years
And feel both pride and disbelief
Marveling at you and all you’ve done
We feel both sadness and relief.

 It seems like it was yesterday
You found your locker in the hall.
And now here you are, so handsome
So beautiful, so tall.

 How did time pass so quickly?
We blinked and you had grown.
It was “Mom and Dad look at this”
Then “Mom and Dad leave me alone!”

 But it’s okay. We get it,
You’re just growing up too fast.
Can we freeze time for a moment?
Between your future and your past?

 That summer after fourth grade
You learned the house that you were in.
You learned the names of all your teachers
And then you texted all your friends.

That first day at middle school
You felt a little out of place.
You were prepared, but you were scared
Soon your doubts were all erased.

 Today, cherish all the memories.
When you sang your heart out at the play
When you gave a speech for Student Council
When Jump Rope for Heart was quite a day.

 Those were fun times. But then came hard times.
"Verona Strong!" We’ll get through this together.
We never thought the year would end like this.
But these tough times won’t last forever.

 Now you’re heading off to high school.
And we’re not sure just what to say.
We want to try to share some wisdom
Advice to help you on your way.

 Keep on searching for yourself
That is life’s greatest task.
It’s not about having all the answers.
It’s about the questions that you ask.

 It’s okay to feel unsteady.
Just breathe and push on through it.
Dare to wonder and to dream.
Set a goal. Work hard. Pursue it.

 There will be some things in life
You will struggle to understand.
If you face a mountain, you can move it
Things don’t always go as planned.

 Life will test you. Life will try you.
I think we’ve all learned that this year.
Find your center. Find your courage.
Let your joy outweigh your fear.

 Make mistakes. Change course. Just own it.
No human being is free from flaws.
Find perfection in a sunset.
Let nature fill you up with awe.

 The universe is vast. When you feel small,
Remember that you have worth.
Choose love, be kind, help others
Take good care of Planet Earth.

When you stumble, keep on going.
You have already come so far.
May your life be a miraculous journey.
Of discovering who you are.

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 20, 2020 at 7:40 PM

    Beautifully expressed, Jennifer. I love the truth and encouragement that always flows from your heart into your words. Congratulations on another year reaching out to have a positive impact on your students! Well done!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be Somebody's Hero

Image
Photo by  Kat J  on  Unsplash We can craft the perfect classrooms School supplies neatly arranged Bulletin boards that deserve awards  But it’s our hearts that need to change. Lesson plans are all aligned to standards Chromebook lessons set to go. Google Apps?  We have it covered.  But there’s something else we need to know. Why does Joey seem so lonely? Why doesn’t Anna have a friend? Patrick stopped by to chat with me. Is he avoiding lunch again? Why is Carmine so impulsive? Something about Ella doesn’t seem quite right.  I’m worried about John again. What happens when he goes home at night? Future doctors, authors, and lawyers  They’re all sitting in our class. So, too, is that child who’s struggling Who just can’t seem to meet the task. Sometimes when we  think about students  We think that their problems must be small. They don’t have mortgages or bosses. Sometimes I thi...
Read more

You Matter

Image
Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash I didn't feel like waiting for a special day to spread some love, so here are some shout-outs to all of the teachers and other staff members who make a difference in the lives of students everyday. In no particular order, I would like to thank you. Special Education Teachers You matter. You teach me that learning is NEVER "One size fits all." No one explains things better than you, advocates more fiercely than you, and appreciates every gain in learning more than you. Thank you. Classroom Aides and One-on-One Aides You matter. You are unsung heroes in my book. You do a million little things and don't often get the credit you deserve. You make sure students are ready to learn and help smooth out all the little bumps on the way to success. Thank you. School Nurse You matter. You boldly go where most of us fear to tread. Puke, blood, and mucus? All before 10 a.m.? Wow. You amaze me. You heal the little boo-boos and you...
Read more

The Do's and Don'ts of Raising Readers

Image
  Air conditioning taught me how to read.   It sounds crazy, but it’s true. We didn’t have central air conditioning in the home where I grew up. We could have afforded it, but we didn’t have it. What a blessing that I didn’t have everything we could afford. It gave me a reason to work for my dreams.   Anyway, let’s get back to reading and air-conditioning. I wanted to be like my big sister and my mom. On hot, sticky summer nights, they would lounge in my parents’ bedroom and read on the cozy bed under the loud but powerful air conditioner in the window. I knew how to read, but I  was not allowed into this exclusive reading club until I could master the art of reading silently. It sounds silly, but I didn’t know how to do this as a young child.   I sure learned fast, though.   My mom is a genius. She made reading everything it should be. Inviting. Special. Volitional. Thank you, Mom. You taught me to love books and more importantly, the poetry, the truths, a...
Read more