Our Greenfield Instructor Elizabeth (Beth) Byrne gave a beautiful tribute to the graduates at the ceremony this Fall. Here’s a portion of her speech.
“Some of you graduating today have come through the classrooms of The Literacy Project, others have found your way here on another path. Some of you finished your last HiSet test last week, others finished 8 months ago. Either way, tonight gives us a chance to slow down and celebrate and reflect of on your magnificent accomplishment. Ceremony asks us to stop and acknowledge.
As I am standing up here tonight, looking out at my colleagues, our friends and family and into the faces of our graduates, I wish you could see what I see…..you are all so stunning! I am also lucky enough to have this same vantage point as a teacher everyday:
And this is what I see:
I see strength
I see commitment
I see bumps in the road that feel like 500 pound boulders going up a hill
I see pencils flying
I see shared goals
I see community
I see birthday cakes
I see new US citizens
I see personal narratives and persuasive essays
I see variables and coefficients
I see kind words and shared experiences
I see parking meters and parking tickets
I see practice tests and practice tests and practice tests
I see frustration
I see things clicking
I see fathers working for themselves and for their children’s future.
I see mothers never giving up on their goal to give their children more than they’ve had.
I see the work and
I see the magic….
I see NEVER. GIVING. UP.
And, tonight, I see diplomas!!!
