Columnist Cassandra Walker
Well, it has been just about eight years since I started writing this “Sharing” column for the St. Louis American and you started reading about my family, friends and relatives.
When I first started this column, son number one was just 10 years old. Now he is 18 and about to graduate from high school and go to college.
You have read about him, starting in middle school, then high school, getting his driver’s license and becoming one of Missouri’s top high school basketball players.
I thought that truly only my husband and our other sons would miss him when he leaves for the University of Washington in Seattle this summer, but the outpouring of support and well wishes from teachers, friends and colleagues has been tremendous.
Just the other day, I received this email from one of his former teachers:
“On a side note, what an honor for Scott! He deserves it for all his hard work and dedication! I really enjoy running into him in the halls and at the baseball games. He is so polite and does not let his awards and honors go to his head. He is a pleasure to be around. You have done a wonderful job raising your children!”
She was congratulating him on an award he had won for basketball.
I thought to myself how many of us have these children, babies whom we love so much. Then we teach them, nurture them and eventually they start school and make friends of their own.
Along the way, they form their own personalities and some of what we are is instilled in them, good and bad.
But what a blessing it is to have someone tell you that you have done a good job!
Isn’t that what all parents want to hear?
Yes, son number one will be graduating this month. Instead of being terribly sad, I am happy. Happy that he has become the person that God created him to be and that my husband and I were able to help … just a little bit.
Congratulations to all the graduates of the class of 2008.
Thanks for sharing.