My nephew Ian, oldest son of my sister Kacy, graduated from William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia (and the Roanoke Valley Governor's School in science and math), on June 8, 2000. He was second valedictorian (the school considers all students with more than a 4.0 average to be valedictorians and Ian and his friend Brad battled down to the wire over a one/100th point difference in their final GPAs).
Being a valedictorian meant he had to give a speech. Ian wouldn't let his mother read the whole speech (which made us all a little nervous that he would use it as an opportunity to call for taking over the universe or some such). So we were all a bit relieved and exceedingly proud of him when he offered a glowing tribute to his eighth-grade science teacher and a call to live each day not as if it were OUR last day, but as if it were the last day of each person we care about.
Ian and the other valedictorians were honored first (nice medal!) and then it was time to get the diplomas. I don't think the family embarrassed him TOO much with our screaming. Tassels were shifted from the right to the left and it was outside for the family photos. Though this is a kid who never smiles in photos, we managed to nail a couple of Ian grinning from ear to ear -- with his Mom (who was probably telling him dirty jokes). He pulled more of his straight face for shots with Mom, Dad Mike, sisters Hannah and Rose and brother Thomas, and even one with me in it!
Fortunately, graduation means presents and presents will help when Ian heads off to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, this fall, where -- as a James Monroe Scholar -- he plans to ease up and "only" major in quantum physics while completing a five-year master's program in computer science...
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Ian's Graduation, June 2000
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Waiting to begin
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Valedictorian speech
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Valedictorian medal
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The diploma
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Tassels on right
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Tassels on left
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Mom cried
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Mom and Ian grinning
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With whole family
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With folks and aunt
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Presents!
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