Graduation from the CCVI

    As a parent and a teacher, I am amazed by the number of “graduation” ceremonies that exist today. It seems as though schools have invented a “graduation” or “moving up ceremony” for every student and every parent to enjoy. Not only are their high school graduations, but there are ceremonies for eighth-graders moving to high school, fifth-graders graduating to middle school, fourth-graders moving to fifth-grade, even day-care “graduations”. Although I have attended more than my fair share of these “graduations” and “ceremonies”, I have never really seen the need for them. In fact I agree with Bob Parr, a.k.a. Mr. Incredible (from The Incredibles movie) when he said, “It’s psychotic, they are moving from one grade to the next, a way to celebrate mediocrity.” All of that changed last night, when I attended the kindergarten graduation at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, CCVI. Last night, my son Nathaniel climbed up on stage, during the “Celebrate Success” program and I couldn’t help, but cry. It was at that moment that I realized just how special these programs can be. 

    Nathaniel started receiving vision services through the CCVI’s infant program when he was six months old. At age two, he entered their pre-school program and has been attending ever since. Nathaniel has received physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and vision therapy. He has learned to read and write Braille and how to function in a “sighted” world, despite his visual impairment. Words cannot begin to describe everything the CCVI has done for my son and my family and how important they have been. 

    Although I have known since the school year began that this was our last year at the CCVI, it wasn’t until Nathaniel stepped up on that stage and began singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with his class, and all the other CCVI students, that is truly hit me. This is the end of one stage of Nathaniel’s life. For the past six year, the CCVI has been the center of his life. It is scary to think that we will no longer have the knowledge, the caring, the support, the love that has been given to Nathaniel and to my family. 

    With every ending, comes a beginning. Although I am scared by what the future holds and am sad that the CCVI will no longer be a part of our everyday lives, it is time for Nathaniel to spread his wings and fly. It is time for him to take what he has learned at the CCVI, use it, build upon it, and start a new chapter in his life. It is time for him to graduate to the next stage of his life. As this new chapter begins, I was thankful for a ceremony. I was thankful for the celebration, just as I will always be thankful for the CCVI. Happy graduation Nathaniel and happy graduation to every child who is starting a new chapter of their life.