Congratulations class of 2004

June 24, 2004

Last night we attended the commencement exercises of our charter school. (At right is one of our students--who got an A in math and is headed for a career in the U.S. Air Force--coming down the aisle.)

While we were dismayed at the lack of decorum by those in attendance--only a handful of men were even wearing a necktie (and half of those were in Armed Forces uniforms)--the raucous atmosphere reminded us that this was a momentous occasion for our students and their families. In the inner city, high school graduation is far from a sure thing, and at our charter school we strive to have our diploma mean something: every graduate who wanted to go to college was accepted into one, many with scholarships.

Our valedictorian was a recent immigrant to the United States when she began as a freshman four years ago. She worked very, very hard to overcome her personal and language obstacles and earned excellent grades through her efforts.

She shared with us that when she was filling out college applications and student loan forms this year she had serious doubts that she and her family would be able to afford college, and she voiced her concern to her father.

He said, "Begin to weave . . . and God will supply the thread."

Weave she did, pouring her heart and soul not only into her classwork--she's graduating with a 4-year GPA just shy of 4.0--but into the personal essays required for her applications. Then one day this spring she was summoned into the counselor's office.

The thread had arrived.

Our soon-to-be valedictorian was not only accepted into an excellent Main Line college, but was awarded a full 4-year scholarship.

We'll close with a line from our guest speaker Lisa Harris, who exhorted our graduates, "Instead of getting your name tattooed on your arm, write your name in history." We have little doubt that some of our graduates will do just that.

Of the class of 2004, we are so very proud.