Hamilton County Schools Graduates Look Back, Ahead
By Mike O’Neal, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
May 18–Caps and gowns were the uniform of the day Saturday when 14 high schools held graduation exercises in downtown Chattanooga.
“In education, this is one of the single most important things that we do,” Hamilton County Schools spokeswoman Danielle Clark said.
The exact number graduating “changes almost hourly up until the graduation ceremonies themselves,” but there were 2,423 seniors in public schools as of Friday afternoon, she said.
From 9 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. graduates, their families and friends filled the Tivoli Theatre, Memorial Auditorium and Trade Center for commencements.
“I’m excited to graduate. It’s time to start new things,” Ashley Jaeger, valedictorian for the Red Bank High School class of 2008, said after receiving her diploma.
After lauding her classmates for having “disciplined yourself to get to school before the 7:15 tardy bell and mastering the art of procrastination,” Ms. Jaeger said, “Today is your day; a chance to continue living life as you have enjoyed it or a chance to reinvent yourself into the beautiful person you know lies within.”
While some graduates may be unsure of themselves, their loved ones had no doubts.
“I’m so proud of all his accomplishments,” said Sherry Ball, mother of Jared Mitchell, who was selected by his classmates as Mr. Red Bank. “He has always been self-motivated. For him, the sky is the limit.”
A letterman in four sports, Mr. Mitchell will play football at Middle Tennessee State University where he will study accounting and business management.
“My mom taught me from an early age to set my mind on something, keep God first and then you can do whatever you want to do,” he said, while aunts, uncles, cousins and others hugged him or shook his hand. “I am the future.”
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jim Scales said graduates reached a milestone in their lives and reminded them that commencement means to start, to continue, and that they should continue looking to the future.
“Our future is in the hands of the graduates this year as in every year,” Dr. Scales said. “These kids will go off and do great things.”
Red Bank salutatorian Jasmine Au said, “We’ve all been told that our high school years would be a time of self-discovery, but no one told us how scary that path to finding our identity would be.”
Many students agreed that one or more teachers have served as guides along that path of discovery.
“These guys have spent a whole lot of time preparing us for the real world, and in the shape it’s in right now, we needed this preparation,” Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences senior Jacob Pousson said. “Honestly, after seven years with the people as CSAS, I’m pretty sure I’m ready for anything. So bring it on, world!”
While students seemed excited about graduating and moving on, teachers and administrators said graduations are bittersweet: they relish seeing seniors go out into the world but mourn their absence.
“It’s empty-nest syndrome every year,” said Judy Copeland, a 36-year veteran teacher who is retiring after 21 years at CSAS. “They make us proud, and they do fly back to visit.”
The Red Bank High School class of 2008′s choice as top teacher, Linda Boran, said one thing has remained constant during her 18 years of attending graduations.
“They always look really young,” she said. “And when I see them, I see promise and potential.”
Graduation
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