The Difference of 5 Years

It's that time of the year. Vitamin C's "Graduation Song" plays on the radio and your mind gets all nostalgic about the good times in high school/college/grad school. I always get a little sad this time of year, as it's always ___ years since you've gotten your masters (3),  ___ years since you've graduated college (5?!), and ___ years since you've graduated high school (8?! seriously?). Honestly, it just makes me feel old and out of touch as the new generation starts to trickle in.

Co-ed Volleyball Seniors in 2005

Best friend Emily and I graduated college in 2008 (different schools)

 This is a special graduation year, as my brother the youngest of our amazing trio of 3 graduated college. I'm sure both my parents can breathe a huge sigh of relief, as they have finally raised three (somewhat) successful adults and that not all three will actually become math teachers. On top of that, my brother graduated summa cum laude (4.0!) and will be working for a new consulting firm.

Just 3 little monkeys

To make this graduation season even sweeter, it is the year my first class of 8th grade students graduate and my 5th year of teaching. My first year of teaching was in a low-income DC Public Schools under the Michelle Rhee-gime (term coined by Lance) when she graced the cover of Time with her trusty broomstick. Like many initiatives and policies in DC Public Schools, her Rhee-gime and my career with DCPS was short-lived.

Remember this?

Although I was somewhere else, I always wondered about my students, occasionally messaging them on Facebook and reading posts about their lives. I'm happy to say several of these students have made it this day and I am fascinated by their growth in the past 5 years. Here are a few of these amazing and incredible young adults:

Delonte: When I met Delonte, he was small, skinny, and probably used the worst possible language 24/7. Delonte is the oldest of several siblings and spent a lot of time watching his brothers and sisters. Delonte would occasionally have his fits with me, but invited me several of his football games which I attended. Today, he works at McDonald's at Union Station and writes poetry. He received a scholarship for some of the poetry he has written. Delonte will graduate this year and go to Fayettesville State University in North Carolina. When exchanging emails and reading his blog, I am impressed at how his language has improved and is actually very sophisticated, instead of dropping f- bombs every two seconds. Check out his blog here.

Delonte on my right after losing his football game. He was devastated. The boy on my left Jamar was fatally stabbed by another one of my students a few years ago.

Crystal: Crystal was always a sweet girl. She would come to school with her haired tied in two buns. Crystal was not the smartest in her class, but always gave her best effort. I remember her as kind and hard-working. Next year Crystal will attend Virginia State University for Criminal Justice or Social Work.

Nancy: Nancy was one of the smartest girls in class. She was always hard working and would often stop by after school to say hi. She applied to go on the CHILL snowboarding program with me, and every Friday for six weeks, we got to skip school and go to Deep Creek Lake to Snowboard. Nancy will be a husky next year at University of Connecticut and study science.

Nancy and me Snowboarding

In 5 years, my little attention deficit, irresponsible, and annoying little 8th graders became real people. I don't know how much of an influence I had on their life as a first year teacher, but today I am proud to have just been a part of it. They overcame tremendous shortcomings that others could not dig themselves out of.

And what about me? How have I changed in 5 years? To be honest, I'm a little jealous of everyone who gets to graduate every year. They get to be rewarded for their accomplishments, and move on to the next big stage of their life. What have I done? What have I accomplished?

Five years ago, I ran my first marathon and successfully jump started my triathlon career. Between then and now, I've raced over about 50 races. This year, I am mentally and physically strong enough to complete my first Ironman. I was itching for my next big life accomplishment, and like my students mentioned above, I will also be crowned a new title: Ironman Graduate.

First Marathon: Lower Potomac River Marathon in March 2009

A nighttime graduation on November 2nd sounds pretty good to me. Florida is waiting...