Day Fifty-four: Congrat(ulation)s

I can't believe I forgot to write about this yesterday. At the beginning of 6th period, one of my students walked in late. I turned to him and asked simply, "Why are you late?" With a straight face and in complete earnestness he said, "I had to bust a few n****as in the face." I started laughing so hard I almost fell on the floor. "Well thank you for your honesty. Have a seat."

At several moments today, people thought I was crazy. My students. Other teachers. And understandably so. First I had traced "Congratulations" and "Graduates" on two separate sheets of black butcher paper. I was super rushed, and realized I had not left enough room for the "s" on "Congratulations." Oops. I decided to start cutting out the "Graduates" first. Took forever (I was also trying to teach, get students involved with helping with other decorations, etc.), but once I started putting blue tissue paper behind it, I got excited. I was going to try to add the "s" on the end of the other, but realized it was too long for the area on the wall it was supposed to cover. So I put the "s" to make "Congrats" instead and called it good. You could still see some of the white pencil from the rest of the word. I tried to erase it but it didn't work so well. Luckily you couldn't notice from the audience. Later, we were setting up in the cafeteria, and some other teachers had come in to help hang up the backdrop I had made to go behind the stage. It was mostly in pieces, and there were some sections of black butcher paper I needed hung up high to cover the areas above the words. They were rolling their eyes a little, but reluctantly played along. They didn't understand the Christmas lights I was putting under the paper. One teacher thought it wasn't going to work and it was going to catch on fire. Then we put up "Congrats" and the entire feeling in the room changed. The lights shined through creating a twinkly effect. After that everyone's attitude changed and became really helpful.

I wish I got a better shot, but here's what the wall behind the stage looked like:

The students deserved something nice. And the graduation was so inspiring. 30 students beating the odds and finishing high school. For each graduate, a teacher would go up, say a few words about the student, and then read their name. I started thinking of students whose names I wanted to read someday at their own graduation. I wanted more than anything to see them through. As long as it takes.