We Blinked
Parents of Springfield High School seniors, I know how you are feeling. Having experienced a “senior year” with two of our three kids, I know how fast the days fly between the first day of kindergarten and the minute when their names are called to take those last steps as high school seniors. And yet, here we are starting the second trimester of the final year of their high school careers. Know that the angst you are feeling now that you’ve ordered their caps and gowns, and watched as they pose for their official senior pictures, is shared. They won’t admit it, but they, too, feel time is moving too quickly. Even if they don’t tell you, believe me, they share the combined sense of excitement and melancholy.
We hear it at their “senior nights,” at the end of trimesters, when they realize the class they couldn’t wait to experience (or, in some cases dreaded) is over, and when they’re taking selfies with friends at their final homecoming game/dance/parade (fill in the blank). Our challenge, together, is to keep all students motivated, to keep their eyes open and experience all they can of their remaining days at SHS. It doesn’t matter if they are freshmen or seniors. It’s up to us to remind them that every day offers the opportunity to learn, to play, to serve and to matter.
Yes, to matter. We are hearing way too many reports in the news about the despair that people of all ages are experiencing in the wake of this pandemic. Our students aren’t immune from these concerns and feelings—many are frightened they may still become ill from the coronavirus. We have many new cases each week throughout the school district and can’t let down our guard. Others are nervous someone they love may become ill or lose their job, or—well, the list of things we all fret over is growing longer and longer. That is why now, more than ever, we need to be vigilant and look for any signs our children, friends or family members are struggling. If you are unsure of the signs, please, reach out to our school counselors for assistance. This is not the time to blink.
However, back to my original thoughts—there are 525,600 minutes in a year and I’d like to challenge everyone to commit to using every minute of every day between the time you read this until your own child graduates to fill every moment, to make memories, and stay focused on the people (rarely things) that are most important.
