Traditionally, I compose a column each year with a focus on that year’s graduating class. Most of those kids have passed through my classroom at some point, and I also get a chance to see them in the halls and at various activities. I’m usually thinking about a theme throughout the year, each time I encounter some seniors.
This year has been very different for a few reasons. First of all, my daughter is part of this class, so I’ve known many of these kids much longer than when they first enter my classroom in 7th grade. And, of course, the track of this school year keeps veering in different directions, and every time I think I might have a main idea, something zags and takes me off-track.
I’ve always had a strong sense of caring about seniors and what their future holds. A teacher’s great hope is that you touched them in some way that made a difference, whether it was making them laugh, figuring out a difficult part of class, or just showing them hope in a tough time. Let’s be honest: there aren’t many who, in a few years, will remember how to use a semicolon, when the French Revolution occurred, or the quadratic equation. But it’s the work ethic, the ability to find what you need to know, and the problem-solving skills that are crucial.
That sense of caring has been magnified this year. There are so many seniors whom I’ve known since they were with Jayna in preschool or even before. I was blessed in that we didn’t consolidate our elementary schools until this group was in second grade, which also meant that my middle school classroom was in the same building as Jayna. I’d be able to make frequent trips to see this awesome group of kids in the halls or at lunch.
I realized this past year that I was still doing that. I found myself sneaking down to the cafeteria during senior high lunch just to walk around and see these children who are all grown up now. It was easy to walk into the lower commons and flash back to stories about each and every kid from some point in our history together. Before school, I might swing through by the lockers if I was on my way to see another teacher. The same thing happened, and I was always impressed with the positivity that emanated from the seniors.
That shouldn’t have surprised me. Naturally, I’m biased toward this group, but I also have seen a lot of senior classes and am able to look at them through the eyes of a professional educator. The Class of 2020 has always been… nice. Good. Positive. Does that mean they don’t have drama or some moments of tomfoolery? Of course not. But what I’ve seen over the years is that, even if someone is not their friend, these kids will still treat others with kindness. They will work together, even if their partner or group wouldn’t be anywhere near their first pick for collaboration. They will step up to help if someone is in dire straits.
Some might be putting on an act while doing this, but they grit their teeth for the sake of doing the right thing. And isn’t that a valuable quality to have? The ability to work with others seems to be fading in our society, but this group of seniors gives me hope that we can rebound and learn how to get along better.
I’ve seen inside the lives of the Class of 2020, thanks to having a child as a part of it. I’ve gotten a chance to coach so many of the girls in basketball, and I consider many of the parents my friends. That doesn’t make it easier when you have to have a tough conversation regarding a grade or behavior in class or playing time in basketball; on the contrary, it was much more difficult. But just like the kids, the caring and understanding of the parents has always shone through.
Some of these students have had personal difficulties over the years. Some have had problems arise in their families. They’ve experienced tornadoes, floods, and a pandemic. They’ve dealt with power outages and polar vortexes. They’ve handled a combining of their elementary class with aplomb. And through every new challenge, they’ve stood together as a class and helped each other and given support and come up with creative ways to handle what life has given them. This is a class of lemonade, not just lemons.
When I wrote the title of this column, I figured it could be looked at as a bad pun. The Class of 2020 has vision? Ha ha. But the more I typed, the more I hoped it would be proven true in the years to come, that this group of outstanding humans will be leaders and innovators and inspirations. They will look at anything to come and say, “Bring it on!”
I love these seniors. Even if you think you only caused me headaches in our time together, know that my caring for you runs deep. I wish you could have had a better end to your senior year, but just like everything else that has come your way, you will overcome and make the best of any bad situation. You are strong. You are amazing. You are the Class of 2020 at NRHEG.
Word of the Week: This week’s word is hapless, which means unfortunate, as in, “The hapless class refused to let the bad times overshadow all the amazing moments they had together.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!