We knew it would come, 18 years ago or sooner.
When you were a baby.
Tiny, helpless. Dependent on us for all of your needs.
Strong-willed
You turned out to be. Doing things your own way. Sometimes this worked well for you. At other times, not so much.
Resilient
We watched you fall. Skinning your knees. Literally and figuratively.
That was the hard part.
Success
We watched you rise up again. Now that. THAT is what living life well is all about!
And you have.
Determination
You picked yourself up, brushed yourself off, and with great persistency moved forward again.
Sometimes against the odds, swimming against the current.
You learned the easy route is not always the best route.
You learned that asking for and accepting help, when truly needed, is not a weakness but a great strength.
You learned that you are not defined by what others think about you.
You have learned to set personal boundaries and to expect others to treat you well. Including yourself.
You learned you are your own person. You have discovered that your worth and dignity is of the same value as any other individual.
You deserve to live well!
Courage and Grit
You have these traits in spades! They will continue to serve you well.
Humility
You also learned about humility while very young. It, too, will serve you well as you will cross paths with many others that have or will deal with all kinds of set-backs in their lives.
Compassion
Continue to grow in having this for others and remember to have it for yourself.
Assertiveness
Continue to communicate openly and honestly. Be authentic to your true self.
Kindness
Look for this trait in others that you invite to be close to you. Nurture kindness in yourself.
In the final analysis, it will not matter how much money you make, how many friends you have, what kind of grades you achieved in school or what kind of jobs you hold – what people will remember most is whether or not you were kind to them. Be kind to yourself!
Competitiveness
Be okay with continuing to strive for and reaching goals that make you happy. It will help bring the best out in others also.
Happiness
More than anything, we want you to be happy! Make choices that bring you joy!
Celebrate
What an amazing gift it is to celebrate with you on this day, the day of your high school graduation!
Congratulations on your high school graduation, brave daughter!
We are so very proud of you!
Love,
Mom and Dad
Integration 