Every year, the teachers write amazing tributes to each graduate. T’s tribute was no exception. Her teacher, Chris Varley was kind enough to share what he wrote, and I’d like to memorialize it here.
One of the hard parts of pulling P out of school early, was knowing that she would not get to go through this rite of passage as well.
Here is his essay interspersed with photos from the girls at school over the years.
**********
Our storyteller, our mathematician, our poet, songwriter, counselor, our friend.
Whether you are bubbling over with ideas to improve our recycling and composting programs or arguing for a decision on our Oregon Trail Adventure, you care deeply about the world around you and the ideas that can make it a better place.
It seems to me that you have already figured out something really important: it’s not just ideas that make the world a better place, it’s the passion and focus that bring those ideas into existence.
We’ve watched you combine your passion and focus again and again in Willow this year to help us read more deeply, think more deeply, and understand more deeply.
My hope for you is that you continue to find ways to combine your passion and focus to take on bigger and bigger challenges because that is what growing up is all about.
Everyone grows older, but not everyone grows up. As a big sister, you are accustomed to leading the way. It’s a role that suits you.
And any community would be lucky to have you play it.
The Sisters:
(The first day of school, 2013)
Graduation day, 2018
Graduation day 2019