The Next Good Thing: 8th Grade Graduation

Back in March or April as I held my daughters graduation form in hand I was confused. Is it really necessary to ask parents to spend $23 dollars on a cap and gown that their child will wear for a couple of hours not for a high school graduation but an 8th grade graduation. 8th grade !!Isn't graduating from 8th grade already a given? While every grade level holds some type of end of the year celebration do the 8th graders really need an event that resembles a high school graduation, an achievement worth celebrating but that is still 4 years away? Shouldn't at the end of 8th grade the emphasis be looking ahead to success in high school, not the finality of completing another grade level?

So why did I sign the form? I hate to admit to it but it was peer pressure. I know my opinion is too late to make any changes for this year and I didn't want to leave my daughter out of the only celebration with her friends and classmates. Don't get me wrong, I believe there should be a celebration but come on, bring it down a notch. Leave out the cap and gowns, and the tickets.

It's just like my kids being rewarded with trophies for participating in soccer. If we keep celebrating with such grandeur then there is nothing to make the future all that unique and special?

Now that I got that out of my system. . .the evening did resemble (exactly) a high school graduation. The kids were just smaller. The Superintendent was there, the school board. It was ridiculous. I asked Kelsey if she really wanted a graduation ceremony. At first she said, "Yes." Then I asked, "Or do you just want to celebrate with your friends?" That was it. She didn't feel the need to get all dressed up. She just wanted to party with her friends.

Kelsey did have one surprise for us that night. She ended up being Valedictorian. There were 11 that night. WOW! Hopefully she'll remember that honor and want to be one again in a few years. I definitely don't want her to go away feeling she's already checked that box!