I love graduation ceremonies, not just to hear “Pomp and Circumstance” 
one more time, but mainly to witness the joy and happiness in student’s faces as they walk across that stage towards their diploma and their life.
This is a time of celebration and reflection, and I hope each of you take the time to do both. There will be tears of joy from parents and family, with a plethora of laughter and hugs.
Relish those and take lots of pics. During the quiet moments following the parties and the cook-outs, take some time to reflect how far you have come. YOU DID IT! I know there were times of doubt, fear and exhaustion. You persevered. And, if need be, you can persevere again.
To the seniors I worked with this year, thank you for the privilege and honor of to help you navigate this journey. And, specific congrats go to:
Hannah, who is heading to Northeastern
Eric and Dakota entering WVU
Zoe, Alexia and Jason going to Shepherd
Matteo, entering Eckard
Josh, heading to Ohio State
McKenzie going to Michigan
Derek, who is heading to Marshall
Erin, heading to Maryland
For words of inspiration, I always turn to Steve Jobs’ commencement speech to Stanford grads in 2005:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Here’s a college I Loved
At the end of March, I toured 14 Vermont Colleges in five days, which was a lot of schools to visit in such a short time. However, without looking at my notes, I remember most of them for their unique programs and student-centered focus.
One school that I loved was St. Michaels in Burlington. This school is passionate about creating an engaging community atmosphere and offers 
scholarships of up to a full ride for students who can demonstrate that same passion.
They offer a rigorous curriculum, faculty-student research experiences and internships, and outstanding alumni outcomes for job placement and graduate school acceptance. Check this school out at: http://www.smcvt.edu/about-smc.aspx And, for a full list of colleges I have visited, check out this page on my website.
