First of all, apologies for the total deadbeat status of my blog in the last week. I've been traveling, recovering from traveling, and generally incapable of stringing words together.
So last week, I posted about attending my former students' graduation in York, Alabama. It was completely surreal to see so many of these folks who I haven't laid eyes on in five years. They are SO GROWN. I used to hate when adults said that to me, but it's just the truth. Funny how it all cycles around.
My sweet mom came with me and I was so thankful she did, because she got so many great pictures of the kids and I as they came into the building to get ready for graduation. I thought I'd share them here!
The significance and depth of the feeling I had watching them walk across the stage is too much to try to express here, but these are some of my favorite moments from the day:
- Generally getting to see and hug and freak out over every kid that walked in the building
- My mom tying Daniel Lawson's bowtie (I snapped a picture of the tail end of that process) like a pro
- Not recognizing some of my boys because they'd gotten so tall
- Getting to hold a "Jamia fan" like a real parent
- Receiving my Jadarrius Warbington memorial ribbon in green - the same color that I had used to memorialize him at these kids' 8th grade graduation - made by his best friend, Antonio Landrum
- Watching the INCREDIBLY PROUD families of these students cheer, often in fabulous matching outfits so they would be easily recognizable
Congratulations to the class of 2017! I love you so much and I was honored to get to be there. Can't wait to see the incredible things you all do.
Love,
Ms. Mac