Graduation is only a concept; in real life, you graduate every day. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, youll make a difference. ~ Aric Pencorici

The days of class trips, volleyball, badminton, year book, SRC, walking downtown eating lunch and cruising with windows rolled down with your classmates during spare is coming to an end. They say it takes a whole community to raise a child. Ours has surely been blessed with these students, turned adult, their energetic spirit and presence; now we accept, with sadness, their moving on, leaving our community. It is so much easier to watch kids other than your own, cruisin or speedin or skippin class! I dont miss those things, or the worry about homework, studying, exam marks, partying, party debates and fund raising. What I do miss is my kids physical presence as well as their circle of friends. The true pay-off does come in the looking back, then watching them step forward to receive their diplomas.

We, parents, would not be normal if not to complain about the disagreements at grad time, disputes at grad meetings, grad party issues, having to chaperone the 4 am shift, the cost of it all, as well as the nagging about homework, studying and lectures about drinking and driving. After all, we got you this far and we only want what is best for your future! That may be the most difficult thing to understand at this point in your life, independence awaits you, time moves on. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.(Ecc.3: 1)

Graduation is an occasion, a Rite of Passage, from one stage of life to another, a 3 phase process; separation from society, transformation and a return to society in a new status. That seems pretty simple eh? I used to use a much simpler view that my kids grew to despise ~ The Real World. That reality only kicks in when student loans have to be paid back, or when that big job did not come, or when you have to deal with a boss and co-workers. I remember my daughter saying, Mom, I wish you would quit talking about the real world, it cant be so bad. But within a year, Mom, I found the real world, and not sure I wanna be here!

As parents, we can only hope that we have taught you well enough to cope out there in a world where you can find your place, follow dreams, find security, stability and peace within yourselves. I felt pretty confident that I had done a good job of teaching my boys household tasks until the first time I visited my sons basement suite after he left home. I understood well and clear why the bathtub was always clogged and why he had no dishes in the cupboard. They were all in the tub, waiting for a full load so he could just turn the shower on and hope that the spaghetti would just slither down the drain! Then theres the first visit; now on their turf, when you meet a feature wall of empty beer cans, pictures everywhere of friends and parties that now complete the rest of the story and you bite your tongue! Then you take a step back, have a little chuckle, watch and wait for responsible adults emerge.

The whole graduation process is very special, almost bittersweet. It is so ironic how we have spent our lives dreaming to graduate, but our remaining days in nostalgia about school days gone by. Old friends scatter, new friends develop, teacher/student bonds are severed, parental security and comforts of home come to an end. But with each ending is a new beginning, graduating from one stage of life to another. One of the biggest changes comes after grade school. It is Graduation: Looking Back, Stepping Forward with heart full of memories and anticipation of the future. As parents, we prepare our hearts to let you go and give you wings to fly on your own. While were cutting the apron strings, we are holding on to the threads of love, support and prayer. We follow close behind you, in the near distance, ready for the first time you call or fall. We forgive you for the times you missed curfew or said you hated us because our rules were too strict. We forget the many calls from the principals office saying that you skipped class or that your marks were slipping. We remember good times and appreciate the precious gift you have given us; YOU. We love you unconditionally. Spread your wings, it is your time to fly.

Your future is an unwritten symphony, just waiting your creative and daring talent to make it a masterpiece. God Bless and Good Luck, graduates of 2006!