The Graduate that was late

Today was graduation day for the school where I work.   A graduate showed up really late today.  As in everyone had walked in, the pledge had been said, and the last bars of the national anthem were being sung.

She shows up and in my judgmental but silent voice I thought "Gee Girl, why'd you even bother?"

I was even more surprised to see an administrator and her assistant hustling around to get her chair put back in place.   Where was their scowl?

Later,  learned that this young graduate was late because first she went to our school (we have the ceremony at a local university arena, a good 30 minutes from where the school is).   It was locked up and she didn't know what to do.  

You see, this young graduate has been living in her car since her mom took off for who knows where.   This young graduate has attended 5 different high schools in 4 years following her mom and apparently this time she decided she was staying put.   Yes, even if it meant she lived out of her car until she finished up her classes and earned her credits.  

Why did she go to the school in the first place?   Seems she went there in hope of being able to take a shower in the locker room, something our administrators have been aware of and assisting with.

It breaks my heart to think of the determination it took for her to make it to graduation.   What thoughts she must have had as she raced downtown, hoping to make it in time.   And how heart warming it was to see a usual gruff-by-the-book administrative assistant smile at this young lady and hurry off to make sure a chair got placed back in her row.  

What a timely reminder for me...I may know their name (as was the case today), but that doesn't mean I know their stories.   I may have heard what she had done, but clearly I had no idea what she had been through.

Congratulation to this young graduate, and the 550 classmates that received their diplomas today!
Here's a few of my favorite photos from today's graduation...

Way to go ILC graduates!

 This young man, was one of the first to arrive...he just couldn't stop smiling the whole time...

The beauty of working in the neighborhood school, I've known this fella since he was in 1st grade!

 Twins...this young man has a heart of gold and the love he shows in helping care for his sister...

well, you'd just have to see it to believe it!

We shouldn't have favorites...but this one is one my favorite clinic visitors!