One of the greatest events for a teacher is to attend graduation where you actually get to see the kids (and adults) who you have worked with accomplish their goal of getting their high school diploma (GED). After working in the Adult Ed Program for nine years and with having about three graduations a year, I have been involved in nearly 36 graduations--all of which made me cry! But this past December's was extra-special because it is the last one I'll be involved with as a teacher.
Susan Kostenko, the other teacher in the Daytime GED program who I work very closely with; Gary Smith, the Testing Director; and Me
Loretta, a wonderful lady who had three children by the time she was 18--the last of whom was a special needs child whose mind was probably never older than a 6-month old and died when he was 15--was one of our speakers. She is an amazing woman who came back to school after she raised her children, and now wanted to be a Special Ed Teacher. She had both Susan and I come to the podium and thanked us for all our help.
Then she presented us both with a bouquet of flowers. It brought tears to my eyes because I know what she has to go through to get the money she needs--let alone give us flowers.
I told the audience that she is already enrolled in college. Seriously, an amazing woman--oh, and did I tell you that she, also, has Cerebral Palsey which she told the audience about, so I'm not revealing anything that she didn't share that night. So many obstacles, yet she was still there every single day for at least four hours each day working tirelessly through all of the work she needed to do. 
Here is a better picture of Loretta, along with me, Sarah who is a current student who came to support the others who were already graduating, and Susan.
One of our older students who was so thrilled to become a high school graduate. He has no car--just a bicycle that Susan helped him get. He rides for miles a day to wherever he needs to go! I could tell you stories about every one of my students. This is the reason I have loved this job so much--to meet people who have overcome so much adversity to better their lives!
I helped both the boy and the girl finish, who are now boyfriend and girlfriend.
George has attended every one of my graduations (except one when he had a board meeting) for two reasons: First, because he is an administrator and helps to pass out diplomas, and secondly, to support me in what I do. All of a sudden in the middle of the program, he went to the microphone and motioned for me to come up by him.
Then Isaac brought me up a dozen long-stemmed roses from George. Isaac did such a good job in front of such a big audience!
I didn't have a clue that George had this surprise dedication to me which wasn't on the program. He became very emotional and told how much I loved teaching in the program and that this would be my last graduation.
The big event when the kids line up to go across the stage to receive their diplomas. That's me giving hugs as they get ready to go across.
Throwing their hats in the air--they are now graduates!
Yes, this is the part I will miss! So many happy tears from the students--but even more by family and friends who sometimes wondered if this day would ever come!
I was so happy that Amy, Isaac, and Lola came to be part of this evening. Jeff and Garrett had to go to a basketball practice, or they would have been there, too.
Thanks to Amy, I had all of these pictures to post.
After the graduation, Lola loved going up on the stage . . .
and she and Isaac pretty much enjoyed the refreshments they had.
But, the best part of the evening for Lola was helping to gather all the chairs.
She just didn't quit!
While Isaac was playing on his game, Lola just kept on working, not wanting to leave.
Thanks, George, for the beautiful tribute you paid me and for the absolutely gorgeous flowers you gave me.
I put the flowers George gave me along with the student's flowers together in this arrangement. This truly was a special evening that I will never forget. I am so proud of all the students' efforts through these past 26 years that I have been teaching, and that I could be part of their success. This has made the hardships of being a mom and a teacher all worth it!
