As the temperature rises and the flowers start blooming in full, summer in Madison has nearly arrived. While the season marks barbecue weather, balmy vacations, and beautiful sunsets, there is a group of young people for whom this time means more: soon-to-be graduates. Eagerly awaiting the end of the school year, these students have been working for almost nine months, or a full academic year. Most students have not only classes and homework to fill their time, but also extracurricular activities, sports, hobbies, and even jobs for some. All of this effort is directed towards what appears to be an ultimate goal. Though, is that an accurate understanding of what being a student, and what education means?
Each term, students are provided with a plethora of knowledge. From mathematics and science to history and literature, the amount of information presented in each classroom is insurmountable. It’s expected that some of this knowledge sticks, but it’s arguably not the most important part of being a student. The information acquired is not the sole aspect that prepares students for the next step, or graduation. What is most valuable is that throughout the school year, students are primed to grow and learn. With each book, essay, and exam, students have a larger capacity for progress. Their capabilities expand, and their drive and determination are fed. Each student learns how to persevere and how to adapt to both failures and successes. And these are the skills that carry us through the rest of our lives – from a job interview, to building and sustaining a community in our later years. Potential is found not in the result of a report card, a final grade, or even graduation, but in the process.
Graduation is a celebration of years of hard work and the endurance necessary to arrive there. A celebration of the friends that have been made, the memories that will not fade, and the excitement of what comes next. Though it is expected, and even demanded, that students reach this point, graduating deserves a celebration unlike any other. It is the shining hour that represents a lifetime of growth and flourishing.
Congratulations to all the students graduating this summer. May your hard work, dedication, and success buoy you into a bright future.
