Year's End

June 6th was graduation day for the students at Verb.

It has been nearly two weeks since the school year ended, and I have thought about writing several times, but never did. I guess I haven't been sure what to say. There have been a lot of great memories this year, and despite all the difficulties that came with working at the school, adjusting to it, and feeling competent, when I watched the students cross the stage and receive their diplomas, none of that mattered.

Because it's not about me. Yes I came here to help in some way, to contribute something, get to know students, their situations, their life, but it's not about me. Everything that is done at Verbum Dei, everything I have worked for, it isn't for me, it is about giving these students a chance to go onto something better.

I sat and watched some really amazing young men take those first steps into a new, uncharted future. And with each step I could see them breaking long cycles of poverty, violence, drug abuse, gangbanging, and generally unjust living situations. I believe in a world where graduates of Verbum Dei will work to make the world a better place for their children, who will fight and work hard to make a difference so that others do not have to overcome odds that they had to face just to graduate high school.

I was privileged yesterday to sit in at a meeting for the Kairos leaders for next year and listen to them share their stories. Stories of families plagued by violence, unemployment, drug abuse, fighting, and the threat of gangs in the neighborhood. It brought home to me how INCREDIBLY AMAZING these young men are. They are so truly, truly amazing. These are some really good students, leaders on campus, and just generally lively, friendly, motivated young men. We forget so easily here some times just how much horrible stuff the boys deal with on a daily basis. Compared to some of their stories, school must seem so unimportant. But they persevere, and do it, and do well.

The same can be said for so many of the Verb boys.

And so it was with pride that I watched the seniors graduate--knowing how much they've overcome. I remembered stories and moments I've had with so many of them, and was incredibly thankful for the chance to know them, to spend time with them, and perhaps contribute to a tiny portion of their high school experience. I'm just so thankful to have gotten to witness and learn so much from them. To have laughed with them, and to congratulate a few of them.

Baccalaureate mass was Wednesday, June 5th. It was a very long ceremony where all the academic awards, scholarships, and everything were announced. Lots of really great achievements on display. Every year the school also recognizes its JVs, and I was presented with a big bouquet of flowers, but more appreciated were a couple of cheers I heard in the crowd. It made me feel like maybe I had done a little OK.

At graduation salutatorian and valedictorian spoke, and both gave good speeches. I got to say congrats to a couple of the students, but most of them were busy, understandably, with family. I got a few thank yous in psasing, though, that were sincere, and it was moving.

The end of the year is strange... In a lot of ways I hate to leave. Really feeling as if I only found my footing halfway through. But the thank yous, the compliments as the end of the year approached, (including being told the next JV has a lot to live up to by one of the students...sorry Laura :)) and even the sense that a few of them were sad to see me go made it all feel worth it.

I don't know if I'll ever see the boys again; I'd like to come back at some point and visit if I could. At the least it would be nice to go for graduation or something.

But who knows? All that I am sure of is this: I am incredibly thankful for my year with Verbum Dei. I am incredibly proud of all of the students, and have learned so much from them.