It was around 11:00 – 11:30 on Thursday night of May 21st when I got up from editing photographs at my computer to step outside for a stretch and a smoke. Immediately I noticed three cars full of young folks over in the school yard walking around and making trips back and forth to their cars. Since the school year is just passing I didn’t think much of it and just figured it was time to “tp” a couple trees or some other time honored right of passage from good ole HHS. I did hear one say, “No one will see it”. In a few short minutes we all went on our own separate ways, me…back to my computer and this group of enthusiastic young men and women off to cut very wide and deep furrows into their chosen fields of dreams out there in the world they will soon control.
I have spent considerable time with this Class of 2008 over the last few years as I recorded their activities both in school and out. The happy and sad faces on the basketball courts or in the stands cheering the team on, eating cotton candy at a carnival, or just driving down the street sending a smile and a wave my way; yes, a lot of images began filling my mind from the last few years. Honestly, I have felt very sad that I did not get to finish their most important year to date with them, recording their faces and actions right up to the end, just as I have for the last few years…but things happen and life goes on regardless of my presence or not.
Many times over the last few years I have been quite proud of these young folks for many reasons. Not just because of the score at the end of a game but for the way that they got to those endings regardless of winning or losing. I have watched and photographed them with pride as they gave their time and efforts to help others and sadly forced to watch quietly from the sidelines as this Class of 08 stood proudly in front of their friends and families to end this chapter in their young lives. There will be many more chapters to write about and photograph as they make their marks in this world. Thursday night some of them began to leave that mark and they did so as they will do many new things in our world, they will make their marks in different ways than we attempted to do. These young folks chose not to vandalize property, hurt or damage others, and to respect others as they proudly showed the world they had passed this way. They will continue to do so in new creative ways which will take our world to new exciting horizons which are currently beyond even our wildest imagination. Once again, I am proud of these young folks as I am sure we will all remain so far into the future. Take the seeds and challenges you have been given by teachers, families, friends, and community and plant them far and wide. Someone said, “No one will see it”, regardless where you make your mark or plant your allotted seeds, the world will see the results of your actions and efforts.
