Here’s to You, Too

The ending of another school year.

It’s time to celebrate our honor roll kids, our star athletes, and our great student leaders.  Here’s to you, certificate kids.  You’ve earned your accolades and ribbons.

But, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to widen our celebratory lens a bit. 

Here’s to the kind girl in the cafeteria who befriended kids that others ignored.

To the boy who mastered a whole list of new sounds with his speech teacher.

To the girl who worked with a tutor to bring her grade up from a D to a B.

To the dreamer who learned to focus his attention in class a bit more.

To the girl who bravely left her curious classmates every single day so she could get extra help to bring up her reading level.

To the fifth-grade boy who finally mastered his multiplication tables.

To the girl with crippling anxiety who did her brave best to still show up almost every day.

To the boy who was the only Asian in all his classes.

To the servant-hearted girl who spent the year helping her teachers.

To the boy who struggled with academics, yet made beautiful music.

To the Spanish speaking girl who mustered up the courage to miss class every day in order to learn English.

To the boy who worked extra hard to meet his IEP goals.

To the girl who worked out math problems despite her parents’ divorce proceedings.

To the boy who was called a racist name, yet came back to school.

To the girl who needed a walker, but was determined to not miss one single event on field day.

To the boy who wasn’t the superstar athlete, yet still gave all he had in PE.

To the girl whose mom was getting chemo, yet still managed to hand in most of her homework.

To the boy who was diagnosed with dyslexia and had to learn to learn in new ways.

To the girl who’s been wounded over and over again by other girls, yet still introduced herself to new people.

To the boy who soaked up art and made masterpieces.

To the foster girl who courageously sat down in a new desk at yet another new school.

To the kid who’s smile made everyone smile all year long.

To the girl who spent time coming alongside her friends in the special needs class.

To the boy who thanked the ladies serving his lunch every single day.

To the girl who vulnerably accepted a nurse’s help in order to get to come to school.

To the boy who got no help at home, yet still completed all his at-home projects.

To the kids who achieved, grew, led with gentleness, got vulnerable, and overcame a thousand obstacles this school year.

Here’s to you, too, brave ones.

You too are seen, celebrated, and worthy of accolades and falling confetti.

We are teary-eyed proud of you.