At a time when many things seem negative in our society, I have been encouraged at this time of graduation-commencement. Last night we attended a musical event at Melbourne High School where they honored the 26, I believe, seniors who were going on with their lives. They were playing their last concert together.
Anyone who knows about the bond that exists in team sports or in a musical organization where teamwork is emphasized, this is a significant event. Everyone must work together to win a game or to attain superior ratings by judges looking for any cracks in the organization. In music it means knowledge of their parts, in all their complexity, when to let one section shine and take the back seat, following their conductor and section leaders, and always begin prepared and giving full attention to the performance.
Facing a last concert is mixing the need to perform at highest standards, and the sorrow that this experience will never again occur. Surely, other students might play the piece, and even might exceed the performance level, but the individual strengths will never again occur. There will be tears.
The orchestra director lined these students up across the stage, introduced each one, told of experiences they had shared both inside and outside class, and then announced their next year goals. Now, I’m not naive enough to assume that what they plan will actually occur. Many people change their minds and majors in college or after. But we had at least six music majors, several biochemistry and bioengineering majors, future social workers, doctors, an EMT and firefighter, and not a few teachers. I know, because both my children are music educators and marvelous performers, that musicians are way above average in their academics as well. But this was a microcosm of this year’s senior class in our county.
The other event I heard about this morning is this years’ seniors at a local church prayed with and over the uprising sixth graders who will be part of the youth group next year. They were sharing their experiences, their hopes, and passing the torch, so to speak, to those who will take their place as the class of 2028. what a wonderful thing for them to do. Those about to be middle school-junior high students to see what comes ahead.
Third, a tradition which occurred at Covenant Christian School and not at Calvary Academy, the seniors, wearing their gowns and mortarboards parade through aisles of underclassmen, kindergarten through eleventh graders, so they can glimpse what will be in their future. One day, they will be the “grown ups” of the school, being launched into their futures. That will leave a vacuum for the underclassmen to fill, and, usually they are determined to leave their positive mark on the school’s reputation.
So, as these events occur, let us applaud their achievements, the intense guidance and unending prayers that have helped these students meet this milestone, both from their parents and teachers. We can be proud of these students as they graduate, and hold them in our prayers as they begin life without daily assignments and gotta do’s and learn to take care of themselves. We wish them well.
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