“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
-Proverbs 22:6
Graduation season is swirling, like fireflies on a southern night.
While I don’t have any seniors this particular year (that’s both behind and ahead of me), I’m still very much in that mindset as I see good kids all around me preparing to enter adulthood.
I did find myself at several awards ceremonies this week, and it was quite something to see so many of our young people being recognized for their accomplishments and character.
It got me thinking about how we help the next generation find their best way in this world. After all, you tend to get more of whatever it is you celebrate and encourage.
For the teenagers in my orbit, which happens to be based in Chehalis, I’m liking what I’m seeing.
On Friday I attended the annual “Academic Grammy” awards at W.F. West High School.
It was a great production, with musical numbers, a roving spotlight on the winners, a sendoff and gentle roast of retiring staff, and a big list of really thoughtful awards that celebrated a broad range of ways that their students shine.
There are other school events that rightly celebrate high-performing athletes, scholarship recipients and those earning top grades. Those kids have worked hard and deserve the recognition.
This event delved into many other facets of academic and social excellence, pulling out kids who are building a strong future. It was great to see them shining a both a literal and figurative spotlight on all corners of the school and its student body.
They also had fun with the award names.
The “Might as Well Be a Doctor” award went to students excelling in exercise science and the “Tape ‘Em Up” award goes to outstanding students in sports medicine. I personally was gratified to see our young people focused on these trades. These kids will be helping us with physical therapy and keeping our old bodies healthy in the years to come, folks.
A number of awards focused on vocational and technical education — people who are ready to make a difference in the world right away through building, fixing and creating. Honors went to top students in screen printing (the “Master Signmaker Award”), agricultural sciences (“Outstanding Agriculturalist Award”), the “Outstanding Mechanic,” “The Most Skilled Person in Wood Shop” and more.
Musicians qualified for the “Maestro Award,” “Fantastic Fiddler” and “The Voice.”
World language students were nominated for “Talented Translator” and top chemistry pupils for the “CHEMsational Award.”
PE students could be named the “Muscle Building Marvel.”
Business leaders qualified for “the Shark Tank Award” (their walkup award music was the novelty song “Baby Shark” — I was expecting “Taking Care of Business,” but then again, I’m old.)
The awards also recognized different personality types, like those with a love for reading (“Bookworm Award”) and those who give it their all every day (the “110% Award”). Students with “a vast knowledge and understanding of the world around them” were nominated for the “Historian of the Year Award.”
The “Helping Hands Award” goes to students for showing integrity, willingness to help staff and their peers, and being actively involved in their school and community.
The “Ray of Sunshine” award celebrated students who always have a friendly smile.
The event also included performances by students on voice and instruments. From a lively cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” to an ensemble performance of The Lion King’s “The Circle of Life,” it was a chance for students to step out and shine. For the more emotional numbers, many students in the darkened gymnasium held up and gently waved their cell phone flashlights to deepen the mood.
The applause for their peers was thunderous after each musical performance. These are kids who enjoy and support their own.
When the ceremony was finished, the students were all directed to step out to line nearby streets to welcome the Special Olympics torch as it passed through the area. Every student in the school cheered and held up signs of support for their colleagues who are excelling through their own lenses of unique challenges and opportunities.
As I watched from the top bleachers and the sidelines, I thought about this world and our modern mass culture that so often offer misdirection, false idols and unfortunate incentives. It’s easy for kids to get lost and waylaid.
But there are people leading our next generation in the right direction, too.
This dad and community member is thankful for the recognition given to our youth who are focusing on improving themselves and giving back to their community through learning useful, life-affirming skills and knowledge.
The kids are all right, folks. And that’s something to celebrate.
Brian Mittge and his family live south of Chehalis. Drop him a line at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
