Eighth Grade Graduation

8th grade graduation

When I was a kid we did not graduate from eighth grade, but today was Carter’s closing exercises for her middle school.  For Carter the end of middle school means that she will move to another school campus next year so it is fitting to have a ceremony to commemorate completing four years of school.

As a parent I am thrilled to have middle school behind us.  I don’t know anyone on earth who loved the years between ten and fourteen.  Outside of the time from birth to two years old, middle school years represent the greatest change a girl makes, both physically and emotionally.  In our house the physical definitely rivals the emotional and I think they are both fighting it out to see which one is the winner.  Judging from the great differences in the boys in Carter’s class many of them are still in the throws of the great change.

I want to publically thank every teacher Carter encountered in middle school.  I have said it before and I’ll say it again, it takes a very special kind of person to want to spend time with adolescents.  The most important thing that Carter learned was her own voice.

There is so much ahead for her and her classmates and I hope that they go forward with kindness and respect for all people and a greater curiosity for the whole world.  But now at last everyone gets the rest that comes with summer break.  Although the sleeping in will be short lived since Drivers Ed starts Monday.

Tonight the kids will have a big party to celebrate their “graduation.”  It will be a last goodbye to some kids who are moving on to different schools.  Those friends will be missed, but new students will be joining Carter’s freshman class in the fall changing the whole dynamic.  Middle school is done forever. Hooray, Hooray.