On Your Graduation

May 2012

Our Dearest Daughter,

Graduation from High School is a wonderful thing. It is a closing of the next chapter in your life and a new beginning. More important, it is one of the golden rings that you receive along the way in a life filled with rewards. At this moment you can take a minute and breathe a sigh of relief. You have a diploma signifying an accomplishment that no one can take away from you. We are so very proud of you!!!

Similar to when you first began walking seventeen years ago, you arrived at this important occasion by taking baby steps- completing little successes and those becoming larger like completing preschool, elementary school, middle school and now high school. We know that many times it seemed difficult putting one foot in front of the other. Some grades and classes took extra effort. But you displayed perseverance and succeeded. You always displayed a faith in your belief that “God has a plan,” and realizing that it is often better to turn problems over to him has been a great benefit to you.

You reached the goal of high school graduation because of your positivity. You are a person with a hopeful, optimistic attitude toward life. You can find something to like in everyone and everything and you look for the good in each situation and are more positive than most people. This attitude helps you to look for what is right and helps others feel better in your presence. In addition to this, you are a stimulator; you create positivity, excitement and good feelings wherever you go. You are entertaining and you have an instinct for knowing how to make people feel good and get people to laugh. You create just plain fun wherever you are. You are not satisfied unless there is a positive hum among everyone around you. This is one of the reasons everyone wants to be around you. Like your mother often says, “I love the air that my daughter breathes.”

As we all take time on this special occasion to reflect upon all of the events that have led up to graduation, we are reminded of a little blonde girl at two years old that was always cheerful, loving and caring- a little girl that lightened a room when she entered and made everyone smile. That little girl has grown up to become a beautiful young woman whom still radiates wherever she goes.

You reached this educational accomplishment and we hope that your life will be filled with many more events similar to this. More important, we wish for you to have continued meaning in your life. Your time in this world is limited and our wish for you is that it is not wasted. We hope that you ignore the noise of others that attempt to drown out your inner voice and Gods whispers to you. And most importantly, we hope that you always follow your heart.

We will predict that if you continue to follow the path and the series of choices that has lead you to becoming the great person that you have become today, that you will continue to build yourself a great story. As you continue your journey and progress through your life, we predict that you will live a whole life. We hope that you find a purpose grand enough for you life and that you make a big beautiful dent in the world. You have untold strengths and resources inside you. Your recently awakened ability to form artistic creations from meaningless clay is a prime example of the hidden abilities that you can harness. You have displayed that your future can be formed from the resources within you.

Above all remember that no matter what, when it is all said and done, God and family may be the only constant you will ever have in a confusing world and your family will always be there to support you. We are here to hold your hand and boost you up in the most difficult time. Remember that you should never stop taking those baby steps. Always be humble, alive and awake. Take each new step-whether it is to college or other ventures, as if it was the first. Then, take another.

We love you !!!

- Mom and Dad