This year I covered three graduations for the paper and attended my oldest daughter's 8th grade promotion and reward ceremony as well as my middle daughter's 6th grade promotion.

I'm actually sort of grateful my son didn't have a 3rd grade promotion ceremony. I was starting to feel a little like Bob from The Incredibles when he says "It is not a graduation. He will simply be moved from the fourth grade to the fifth grade."

That being said let's talk about my favorite quotes from this year's events.

My first graduation was on a wonderfully warm Friday evening. Please keep in mind that warm weather brings outs the sparsely dressed. Please refer to my previous post
about not acting like an ass.

I saw just over 400 students graduate, heard six speeches and listen to another chorus rendition of "For Good" from WICKED. My favorite quote from the evening "You have the power to make a positive difference."

The next "graduation" I attended was my oldest daughter's eight grade promotion to which one speaker quoted Sydney J. Harris "The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows"

While my take on the quote was far different than hers, I found myself pondering the thought process of the 14 year old mind. The frontal lobe still not fully developed. The struggle of the child trapped within the adult body. Her take on the quote included finding something within yourself to envision your full potential. i always thought it meant that you must learned not to focus solely on yourself.

That graduation included five speeches and a little over 300 8th graders.

Here's a picture of us all prior to the event.

Graduation No. 2 for the paper was at a non traditional high school designed for students who struggle in a typical classroom setting. These kids couldn't have been happier or prouder. It included just under 100 students, seven speeches only Pomp and Circumstance was played.

My favorite quote of the evening was said by the Superintendent of Record, "Every situation is a choice. You decide how you react to it."

That is often times easier said than done.

My middle daughter's promotion ceremony came next. The best speech from that event by far was given by the principal in which she relayed the story of an older fish saying to a couple of younger fish, "How's the water?" To which the younger fish reply, "what's water?"

The point of the story, at least in my mind, is that we often overlook the most important things. We often take what we couldn't live without for granted.

Friday found me at my last graduation, which to my surprised included reserved seating and a job offer. But I'll save that for another post.

My favorite quote from that night came from the superintendent. Providing advice she wished she had 33 years ago at her high school graduation she said, "Life is too hard to be lived alone. As you grow you will become more like your parents. Spend more time listening. Give back to your community. Seek balance. Build relationships. Trust your instincts. Find your passion and be true to your integrity."

This graduation included six speeches and an endearing rendition of Lean on Me.

Graduation season is about over. I plan on attending my own district's commencement ceremony tonight because I wish to hear the final address of our superintendent before she moves on to bigger and better things.

To all the graduates out there, my wish for you is that life is all that you imagined. Cure cancer. Stop wars. Live a life of passion. Make it a good one. After all, the choice is yours.

Regular readers know that I cover numerous graduations for our local paper. Last year I posted some basic unacceptable behaviors. I would like to elaborate on that as I get ready to attend the first of a handful of graduations tomorrow.

Wearing clothes that make you look like any of the following: a slut, an audience member on Maury, or an escaped convict: not appropriate.

Bringing children with you who are incapable of sitting for 10 minutes let alone 90 -- not appropriate.

Yelling things. Not appropriate. Someone should tell you that your child isn't more important than the child in front or behind him/her in line. Shouting things like "Way to go Dumbass" is disrespectful.

Answering your phone. Completely unacceptable and downright rude. I don't care if you're on call. I don't care if your waiting to hear if your grandchild was born. If your phone rings during graduation, you cannot answer. If you need to return that call, please exit.

Leaving during a speech. Not acceptable. Try to remember that these kids are 17 or 18. They are speaking in front of a ton of their peers and many of their loved ones. Clomping up the bleachers in your big ass shoes so you can get to your car first is unacceptable. In all honest, it makes me want to trip you.

Just because I'm taking notes doesn't mean I have extra paper to share with your irritating child. Asking me for my pen - unacceptable. It always amazes me just how perplexed people get when they see me taking notes at graduation. I must not look like a reporter.

Allowing your child to slide down the stadium bleachers. Not acceptable. Seriously? Someone needs to tell you this?

Can't wait to see what tomorrow night brings.

It's going to be hot out there. Just in case you were wondering, bikini tops are also unacceptable.

This post wraps up my graduation season.  I was going to cover one more, but my son had a baseball game and I went to that instead. 

Thankfully the crowd at my last graduation was much better behaved than the crowd prior.

There were no inappropriate remarks, no inappropriate chants and only an occasional cell phone conversation.

The weather was beautiful.  Just under 200 students graduated.  There were five speeches and a moment of silence for a deceased classmate.

My favorite quote was spoken by the high school principal.

Tonight's activities were already scheduled to be indoors and that's a good thing because rain began falling about 45 minutes before the commencement was to begin.

Approximately 190 students graduated.  There were six speeches including the valedictorian, the salutatorian, the class president, the board president, the principal and the superintendent.

While the students were very well behaved, the audience took on a life of their own.  Because of this, I posted on my facebook some basic commencent behaviors that I will now share with you.

Screaming way to go dumbass...not appropriate.

Holding a sign that says congratu F'in Lations ... not appropriate.

Wearing your pajamas...not appropriate

Blowing an airhorn indoors (or outdoors)...not appropriate.

Wearing your beard in a braid...not appropriate.

Wearing anything that shows off your ass crack...not appropriate.

And last but not least...referring to anyone with a doctorate in education as a fucking moron...not, at all, appropriate.

While I received my long awaited Dr. Seuss quote from the class president...

Tonight marked the second of my handful of graduations.  It was outside and chilly.  Almost felt like a fall football game.

Many of you commented that the six speeches that I heard on Friday seemed excessive.  Tonight's graduation had seven.  This class consisted of approximately 230 students.

The speeches had a common theme and weren't excessively long.  Suprisingly, the salutatorian didn't speak.  The Valedictorian did as did the three other students who auditioned for the part.

The principal's speech was very moving by difficult to quote as he had many personal memories of the class that started at the high school the same year he did. 

My favorite quote was spoken by the valedictorian who encouraged her classmates to step up onto the next rung of the ladder, to climb slowly, to comprehend deeply and to enjoy thoroughly. 

Are you enjoying life throughly???

Friday was the start of my graduation season.  If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably already know that I love graduation.  I usually cover at least a handful of them for the paper. 

Friday was the first of many and under the threat of severe thunderstroms and a tornado warning, I watched as nearly 400 young adults received their diplomas. 

There were six speeches, some better than others.  Students were encourages to be a linchpin--to be indispensible.

Student speakers spoke of dreams and the future.  There were quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt, from Seth Godin, even Walt Disney.  Sadly, no one quoted Dr. Seuss (a favorite of mine)

My favorite quote of the evening was spoken by the valedictorian and was a quote from Dumbledore, the headmaster of Harry Potter fame.  This years graduating class grew up with the Harry Potter stories.  Most seniors were born in 1995.

Graduation season, for me, is officially over.  My last graduation was Friday.  Although, I attended five, sadly no one provided any Dr. Seuss wisdom.


On Friday, even though the weather was perfect, graduation was held indoors.  Apparently, since the gymnasium is air conditioned it will always be indoors.  I'm not sure why, as graduation is so much better outside.


I saw just under 200 students receive their diploma, listened to five speeches and pondered why no on in the administration was wearing a cap or a gown.  Usually this is traditional attire.  Especially for those who have reached the level of Doctorate of Education. 

This graduation season I saw nearly 1400 students receive their diploma, listened to more than 30 speeches, saw grandmothers cry,  heard bull horns blow, watched moms lovingly attach mortarboards, and saw dads waver between manly handshakes or big boisterous hugs.

My favorite quote from the last graduation I attended was spoken by the high school principal and was also the class motto.  I think it is a fitting ending to my graduation posts.

There was a threat of rain today and I was concerned that commencement might be forced indoors.  So I was delighted when the threat passed and I was again able to attend an outside graduation.

Outside graduations are the best.

I saw just over 200 students graduate, listened to 7 speeches and took this awesome picture of the kids tossing their caps. 

My favorite quote of the evening was spoken by the superintendent and I think you will be able to figure out why.  It's not Dr. Seuss, but it's close.

Tonight's graduation was beautiful and sad all at the same time.  The seniors lost one of their own less than one month ago in a motorcylce accident.  His chair remained empty as a reminder to all those in attendance that life holds no guarantees. 

That life is unpredictable.

His diploma was the first awarded and it was accepted by his parents.  Eleven white doves where released and they circled the stadium quite a few times before they departed.  Almost as if they were saying, "I don't want to go, but I can no longer stay."

The ceremony awarded 210 diplomas and provided six speeches to gather quotes from.  My favorite quote was spoken by the valedictorian as she remembered the classmate that died all too soon.

Last night was a great night to open the graduation season for me.  The sky was clear, there was a light breeze in the air and the excitement was electric.


There is nothing quite like a graduation.  Proud parents all around, grandparents with tears in their eyes, small children begging older siblings for a chance to wear their "cool hat".

Last night I watched as 388 young adults reached a major milestone in their life.  I witnessed numerous hugs, a few tears, and tons of laughter.

I listened to 9 speeches (overkill) as well as one of my favorite songs from the musical Wicked "For Good".

My favorite quote from the evening was spoken with great enthusiasm but the co-president of the class.