My daughter is a high school senior.
I could stop right here, because any reader who has lived through this life event has just had an emotional flashback profound enough to measure on the richter scale.
I love this rite of passage. Parenting is carousel of praying, loving, advising, praying, laughing, watching, praying, talking, holding your tongue, and praying some more. At graduation, the ride slows down enough to reach for one of the brass rings. It is a time to celebrate the baby turned toddler turned child turned teen who has worked hard, accepted challenges, overcome obstacles, reached the end of a very long and winding road. The diploma she will hold next week will state that she has completed the academic course work necessary to be deemed a high school graduate in the eyes of Notre Dame Academy and the State of Kentucky. That, in itself, is worthy of shouting and praise!
That document will make no mention of her progress in the school of life. How does one measure success in learning who you are, or what you believe, or where you want to go? There is no letter grade to tell her if she has developed the knowledge to lead a good life, to fight for what she believes in, to work in a vocation which will bring her happiness in any measure. There is no final exam to establish her readiness to take on the world, to face the challenges of not only college, but whatever adversity or success life may throw at her. Has she found the source of her strength? Has she developed a moral character which will allow her to stand up for herself and others? Does she know that as a child of God she is worthy of the greatest of love and respect and honor? Does she hear the call to share that love with the people around her? These are the questions which are asked, and answered, and asked again.
Commencement means, literally, the beginning of something, not the end. When she walks across the stage to accept her scroll, she deserves to take pride in the hard work she has done and the delightful, loving and confident young woman she has become. She can look forward to her years at UofL with excitement. Her accomplishments are admirable, and we will celebrate them with great joy. But LIFE is just beginning! Her real education begins with every new obstacle, achievement, every new day. The homework, and the questions, and the answers, are always changing. As a parent, I will rejoice in all she has done, but am even more excited and proud to think of what she has yet to do.
