On such a cold and rainy day, it's easy to find yourself seeing a momentous day like Graduation as a bit depressing. That's why I thought I'd give you all a couple of parting, cheery words...
(The photos, BTW, are from graduation rehearsal, before my camera definitively jammed... The amazing thing - particularly considering what you'd been doing the night before - was that you all looked great the whole time! Well, with maybe one exception you'll see later on...)
First of all, I credit everyone for their patience and fortitude this semester as we tried to whip Capstone into shape. It may or
may not be helpful for you to know now, but your efforts in Capstone this semester have ensured a vision for a great Capstone experience for those rising Honors students who will eventually follow in your footsteps. As a result, everyone in Capstone earned either an A- or an A. You have my congratulations, and my thanks!!
Lastly, I saw this last week and thought of ya'll. It's a "
Letter To a Young Activist during
Troubled Times" written by no less than the psychologist who's been the Post-trauma specialist at Columbine High School ever since the massacre.
While our troubles or anxieties for the future may or may not seem small in comparison to that, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés gives a lot of food for thought that I wanted to share with you, including these words...
"I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able crafts in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind. I would like to take your hands for a moment and assure you that you are built well for these times. Despite your stints of doubt, your frustrations in arighting all that needs change right now, or even feeling you have lost the map entirely, you are not without resource, you are not alone. Look out over the prow; there are
millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. In your deepest bones, you have always known this is so. Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless...
One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires ... causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these — to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both — are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do...
In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great 
ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But ... that is not what great ships are built for.
...This comes with much love and prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth,"
That's where Dr. Estés signs her letter. I wish I were as eloquent as she, but it seems the best place to sign mine as well...As you leave this particular safe harbor, may your voyages be adventurous and prosperous, and may your souls shine like beacons for other ships, great and small!!
Best wishes and lots of love to you all!
Michelle
P.S. Check back periodically... as I find more photos and news of Honors'
exploits, I'll post them here! For updates of my own exploits, both here and abroad - such as they may be - you can keep tabs if you want with my own personal blog. Arrivederci, tutti!! :-)
P.P.S. At left, the possible "one exception"... ;-)
At right, cameo appearance by this year's Honors' "mascot"... ("Look, ma... no cavities!!")
(The photos, BTW, are from graduation rehearsal, before my camera definitively jammed... The amazing thing - particularly considering what you'd been doing the night before - was that you all looked great the whole time! Well, with maybe one exception you'll see later on...)
Troubled Times" written by no less than the psychologist who's been the Post-trauma specialist at Columbine High School ever since the massacre.
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