Carmen Graduates from Middle School

We were so proud of Carmen today. She has really grown up quickly. She and her mother went shopping all weekend for an outfit to wear and I never saw it before the ceremony. While Robin, Matt, Jackie and I were waiting for her to come down the stairs, she walked right by without me recognizing her.

We took this picture after the long, warm ceremony that graduated 224 eighth graders.


It seems like only yesterday that she and her friends posed for this picture as they graduated from Elementary School, but it was three full years ago. I am told that the four years of High School will go by even faster. I'm grateful for the friends Carmen has chosen at her schools.

Along with her two elemenary friends from the neighborhood, Carmen has also found new friends on the school volleyball team, club volleball, Beta Club and One Way. The visionary leader of One Way gets lots of appreciation from Carmen. Adam is also establishing friends at the same club.

We know as she heads into High School that the friendships she has made in Elementary School and volleyball will help keep her focused on the straight and narrow road, and she really needs an rigid life. Flexibility is not really one of her strengths.

Her strengths are in competition. You can't always win, but Carmen hates to lose. She desires to do her best and puts a great deal of pressure on herself to succeed. She doesn't like B's and has avoided them since a horrifying B in handwriting during the 4th grade. Several of her friends were also awarded with a plaque for getting straight A's all through middle school. I hope they all stick to their pursuits of scholastic excellence. The world needs more folks that are not afraid to work hard.