{"id":3113,"date":"2016-06-09T20:57:48","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T00:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/miserybay.usanethosting.com\/indylite\/?p=3113"},"modified":"2016-06-09T20:57:48","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T00:57:48","slug":"features-36","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/2016\/06\/09\/features-36\/","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"

Random Notes<\/strong> – SJHS Commencement 2016 is memorable<\/p>\n

by Rhonda Dedyne<\/p>\n

Honestly, I don’t recall much about my graduation day at St. Johns High School 46 years ago. There’s a box somewhere in the attic where I could probably find photos and a program from that 1970 commencement ceremony – which, by the way, was the first class to graduate from the “new” high school that replaced Rodney B. Wilson for the 1969-70 school year.<\/p>\n

As vague as those graduation memories are in my somewhat “senior” brain, I know for a fact I will never forget last week’s ceremony for the Class of 2016. There were teary eyes and wide smiles on the faces of both myself and my oldest grandchild, Gwendolyn Gaffney, when I had the honor of handing her a diploma. <\/p>\n

\"gwen\"<\/p>\n

It was a special, once-in-a-lifetime moment. Unlike a printed program or photographs that will be packed away and eventually forgotten, the joy and happiness on her face in successfully completing a part of life’s journey is etched in my mind. It’s the sort of mental image that lifts our hearts during times of sadness, making us smile through the tears and hardships that are part of our human existence.<\/p>\n

In a way, Gwen serves as a representative for our nine other grandchildren whose diplomas in the years ahead will be delivered by school representatives here at SJHS and at other districts where they live. My years on the Board of Education are numbered – I won’t be able to take advantage of this school board “perk” ever again.<\/p>\n

Looking at in another way, perhaps I served as a representative for the many grandparents who were cheering and waving as grandsons or granddaughters crossed the stage that evening on the SJHS football field. They couldn’t hand their special graduates diplomas. As school board members we are surrogates for those family members and friends. Delivering diplomas into the hands of our young people is absolutely the best moment for us.<\/p>\n

Congratulations to each and every member of the Class of 2016 – and hugs to my Gwenie Doo. She’s gonna love that I shared that nickname with everyone. <\/p>\n