Graduation

GRADUATION
Saturday, June 6, 2009, I went to Marie’s and my last grandchild’s graduation. Kaitlyn Chilson graduated from Fairfield (CA) High School. She was one of 344 graduates! Reading each of these names over the P.A. system took about an hour! The program was well planned and went off without a hitch - until the post graduation activity. A school official announced that the grads should meet their families in the parking lot, rather on the football field. Apparently they didn’t want to damage the artificial turf. (?) The Home and Visitor bleachers ran between the 20 yard lines. They must have held nearly 3,000 people! Most of these people and many cars didn’t mix too well in the parking lot. It presented a dangerous and hazardous condition.
When I watched the many excited and happy seniors receive the “acknowledgement” of their graduation (they would exchange them for their diplomas later), my mind wandered. I agree that they should show such emotion. It is only natural to be relieved, and happy, after all of their difficult effort. I am sure that most of them were glad to be finished with high school. But, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future would hold for them. It will be difficult! They will be climbing up hill! They will be entering the real world - whether it will be further schooling, job hunting or just “chilling”. They are naive. Many will wish that they were back in high school ,where life was easy. The economic recession is a lousy time for them to be looking for work. The bad news is that many will not be able to find a job (short of Fast Food places). The good news is that some of these recent high school graduates will decide to continue their education until the economy perks up, while others will complete their college, or trade, education.
The current recession has hit this graduating group the hardest. The current rate of unemployment for workers older than 25, who haven’t gone beyond high school, is 10% - double that of a year ago! The unemployment rate for workers who didn’t complete high school is about 16% - also double that of a year ago! However, there are more job opportunities for women than there are for men, usually in the health and education fields.
Then, how about all those “Drop Outs”? This cohort is a national disgrace and a problem. They wonder why they can’t get a job - or at least a good one. They don’t seem to have a clue about the relationship of education and a good job! I tried to put a number on “Dropouts”, by asking a few graduates how many students transferred, or dropped out, since the beginning of their freshman year? They had no idea. Back when I graduated 73 years ago, I knew, or I could have figured it out - it wasn’t many. But, in all fairness - we only had 83 in our Class of ’36, and our graduation took place in the auditorium at Berea (OH) High School - not 344 seniors in a football stadium. In some inner -city high schools, today, this drop-out rate reaches as high as 50%.
And so, all of you newly graduated seniors “Good Luck and God Speed”.
After Graduation, Sue and Tom had about 40 people over for a barbecue lunch. It was very nice, and I enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres and the great lunch. It was also nice seeing people that I hadn’t seen for quite a while. Mary and Greg picked up Marie, at Laurel Creek, and brought her to the party. Of course, I enjoyed seeing her, even though I visit her twice a day. She enjoyed seeing everyone, and I am sure that they enjoyed seeing her. She added a lot to Kaitlyn’s graduation.
RCL - 6/7/09.