The Nova Project PTSA

Graduation is in the Cafetorium at 6PM June 15, 2010

As we look toward this evening, here is a tale of a graduation past offered by Kay Kole Leary, our volunteer coordinator…

Before attending our daughter’s graduation night at Nova, my experience with graduations seemed pretty stereotypical; huge auditoriums filled with rows up on rows of blue or black caps and gowns and cheering families, dull “inspirational” speakers and chosen valedictorians, hours of sitting while names I had never heard before were called and students walked, short thrills when the one or two “eccentric” students pulled off some immature stunt to make sure we knew they weren’t “just one of the crowd,” which they actually were.

That all changed the night of my first Nova graduation. Becky’s class was the last to graduate from the steps of the Mann Building, so while there was excitement in the air, there was a certain amount of sadness as well. The focus of the evening was where I have always felt it should be, not on a special speaker whose words will never be remembered, not on the events that led it to be the last Mann Building graduation, but on the graduating students: every single one of them. I was impressed at how many other Nova students and Nova alum were there to honor the graduates.

As each Coordinator rose to speak about their students, my eyes filled with tears. I had never appreciated how sincerely these teachers cared for their students. The tears overflowed when I came to grasp the depth of their knowledge for each graduate. Each adult spoke with love, humor, and a positive tone that celebrated every student’s strengths and excellent qualities. Their words set the students upon the road of post-high-school life feeling supported and acknowledged. Each graduate stood in front of friends and family and had the rare experience of being truly known by an adult, and loved for who they were and for who they were on the threshold of becoming.

Then each student spoke. Not one preferred valedictorian, but each student. They were dressed in everything from pirate costumes, to jeans and t-shirts, to nice suits and dresses, to graduation robes. Each had seemed to have arrived at a point where they were comfortable with themselves and dressed to express that comfort, not to impress or conform. Most said no more than “Thank you,” either to Nova in general or to specific teachers or staff. Several spoke about how Nova had changed, or saved, their lives. Each received appreciation and recognition from their classmates as being an important part of the Nova community.

I must correct myself on one point. At that graduation there was one special speaker. Bob the custodian. It was sort of a graduation for Bob, as well, and he had his chance to speak. Bob was retiring and the Nova community honored him that night, by listening to him speak about the pride he holds for his heritage and for his years of service in Seattle Public Schools and at the Mann Building.

The events of the evening had been planned by the seniors themselves. While there were certain traditions followed, the evening was by no means a “cookie-cutter” ceremony. Students created, printed and assembled the program. They chose the order in which the Coors would graduate.  Non-graduating students and their families were asked to put the finishing touches on the evening by bringing food, flowers and decorations. The very successful ceremony that evening was itself a testimony to the skills and competencies Nova instills in its students.  It is an evening I shall long remember and, even though my other daughter won’t be graduating for a few more years, I am looking forward to attending The Nova Project graduation ceremony tonight.