katelingradOur granddaughter, Katelin Marie Johnstun, graduated from St. Helens High School yesterday. What a mile stone this is in a young person’s life. Most people will not appreciate just how major a step this is until later in life.

Katelin stepped on a nail earlier in the day and as she marched in the processional it was obvious that her foot was hurting from the injury. But she was there!

As she came into view in front of the reviewing stand I glanced at her mother, Diana Johnstun, and saw her eyes glistening with tears. It is a big moment in life when we see our children getting ready to leave the nest and face the world more alone in life than they could ever imagine.

She plans to attend college this Fall. I am not sure what she will be studying and I do not know whether or not she knows yet for sure. She has a job now as an assistant in a care facility so she may follow that path. (She is working a 12 hours shift there today, sore foot or not.) She has a real love for animals and could end up in a veterinary arena of some kind. Photography is also an interest, so a career as an animal or wildlife photographer?

This is all speculation and dreams on my part. I have no idea what her life goals are.

Katelin is the 3rd of our 6 grandchildren to graduate high school so we are half way there. She has had a rocky road the past couple years so it was really great to see her hang in and reach out for the diploma cover.

I was impressed with all of the graduates. The boys seem so much more mature and the young women so much more poised than when I was that age. I think our future is in good hands.

The only sour note for me was one of the valedictorian speakers said that going forth they must not be rigid like an old large tree but be flexible like a reed. They need to bend with the wind and compromise.

In my mind, this is one thing that is wrong in the world today. Too many people are seeking compromise rather than sticking up for their beliefs and principles. This was especially driven home to me this past week as Dorie and I began watching the award-winning television series “The World At War”.

Neville Chamberlain epitomized a “flexible reed”. Had he and the French had more back-bone, we might never have had a Second World War. We need to be teaching more about history and the dangers of compromise in our schools.

‘Nuff of the soap box. I’ll write more about my own education and the importance of graduating in a future post.

Katelin, we love you and are proud of you! Congratulations!