Congratulations!
You made it. You have done exactly what your parents and
family have wanted you to do–you have graduated from high
school or college. Now “Real Life” begins, the “Great Adventure”
has started, and we are waiting for you to make your mark
on the world. Just as your tassels were swinging in the
breeze to the processional of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the
adults in your life were sighing in relief. Finally, you
can start earning your keep.
Hey,
kids (oops, I mean graduates), it’s been one expensive ride
for your parents. According to some big study that was published
in Newsweek, the average American child costs around $200,000
to raise, not to mention college. College costs push the
envelope up into upper stratosphere, breaking the pocketbooks
of many a parent, not to mention placing a drain on retirement
funds. Can you blame parents for crying when they watch
you walk on stage to receive your diploma? Those tears are
tears of joy–the poverty has ended!
Of
course, children are always worth whatever we spend to give
them a better life. But two hundred thousand bucks? Payback
is a real stitch–it’s so funny to imagine that I can’t stop
laughing. As one Anthem man laments, “Putting two kids through
college has wiped out any hope of a decent retirement for
me and my wife. Maybe the kids will help us in our older
years.” Is this guy kidding? No, he’s absolutely right.
In fact, maybe he should start billing them now.
On
a brighter note, watching the kids graduate is one of the
“moments” in a parent’s life that creates true pride. High
school, college–it’s all been quite a journey and families
tend to travel it together. A million memories, help with
homework, science experiments, math equations, special reports,
and endless hours of studying suddenly ends with a cap,
gown, diploma and processional. What could be grander? Commencement
speeches may drag on a little too long, the line of students
may seem endless, but there is something beautiful about
hearing your child’s name called up on that stage.
Graduation
marks the end of one huge chapter. It is the single biggest
milestone to the next phase. Adulthood is looming in the
not‑so‑distant future. Children may move away,
get married, have babies, join the military, even leave
the nest. Yikes! The patter of little (or big) feet are
soon replaced with silence; and no matter how difficult,
time‑consuming, exhausting, and expensive raising
a child was, guiding the kids through those school years
might be one of the greatest achievements of all time. The
graduation ceremony and party should be for you, parents.
No,
on second thought, it’s the teachers of the world who deserve
our applause. Teachers stand
up
to our kids and stand up in front of our kids, in an amazing
effort to show them the light of learning. Every day teachers
climb the mountain and do the impossible–they capture the
attention of a teenager for more than ten minutes. On top
of it, they are underpaid and overworked.
Oh,
but I digress. Parents, on a practical note, it might be
a little premature to start painting your graduate’s bedroom
and transforming it into your office. You might want to
wait a while (like five years). If you are teary‑eyed
because your graduate is leaving home, take heart, the kid
will probably be back. If you are crying because your graduate
shows no interest in leaving home (ever), remain hopeful.
This too, shall pass. The nest will get too small and eventually,
the children do leave and make their marks on the world.
To
all those graduates–congratulations! Celebrate long, hard
and wisely. The world needs you. Now, go out and change
it for the better and give your teachers and parents extra
hugs. Never forget that “Pomp and Circumstance” is more
than just a song.
