I'm in the middle of making graduation rounds. I attended a Madison reception this afternoon (Madison HS graduates its seniors tomorrow afternoon), and in a few minutes I head down to the Montrose HS graduation ceremony and receptions following.
Straight to the point: kids, be careful. First off, I'm going to be on the road, and I still have a good 17 years of daddying to do, at least. I don't want to get run over by some wild driver.
But more importantly, you graduates all have lifetimes ahead of you. You don't need to live on the edge by driving like stuntmen (which you aren't) or drinking yourselves stupid (which you don't have to be) or both. You're already living on the edge... of your futures.
Graduation is all about the future. High school is done; the real world awaits with more excitement than you will ever find in a bottle or a fast car. Nothing you might have the opportunity to do tonight (short of maybe an offer from aliens to travel the galaxy) is worth sacrificing all that lies ahead. Be safe tonight, and live for all the fun and challenges that tomorrow will bring.
I am not sure that you will get to reading this as Graduation Weekend for many of us has come and gone. Let me say, however how pleased I am to see this post. As an educator, I have seen firsthand the devastation that comes with unwise decisions. Thankfully we have learned from our "invincible" past and are able to pass that information on to the younger generation. The question looms....will they heed the warning? Let us collectively hope so.
ReplyDeleteAgain, kudos to your post.