Graduation

At SK Graduation, Joanna writes poetry for each graduate, and Karl writes prose, but the crux of the biscuit is the graduating eighth graders.

Mike and Isobel each write and shared heartfelt remarks. Jianmarco performed a little Shakespeare. Maya, Elizabeth, Trent and Nico sang and played music, with help from classmates. The seventh graders pitched in, too: Nik and Matthew played music for the processional and recessional. Karenna and Kaeli presented Joanna with flowers and a memento book. A few of the 5-6s joined in by contributing some of the artwork that was ghosted into SK's unique diplomas.

Aristea gave a lovely short speech. Here is a transcript.

This year seemed to be made of doors.

Whether they were closing or opening, locked or unlocked, the possibilities were always there, like evergreens in the winter.

At times it was scary, but I feel like I got what I needed from this year, and from this school.

And although we are most likely going down different paths, and may never see each other again, these memories are what will make us up. At the end of the day, all that's left of us is the memories of us that live in other people's minds, and I hope the part of me that you preserve is a person who will make you smile.

Like Ellen Degeneres said, “Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, and never follow someone else's path, unless you're in the woods, and you're lost, and you see a path. Then you should by all means follow that.”

All in all, just remember that the heart-- the heart is like a box. It won't be of any use unless it can open.