Subscribe to FeedFrom Where I Stood: Bill Tinkler
From where I stood AshworthUniversity’s first graduation ceremony seemed somehow “bigger.” The 45 high school graduates had traveled to Norcross, Georgia from homes around the country–California, Maryland and Louisiana–and they and their families were expectant and a little nervous. As I stepped to the podium to give the commencement speech, my concern about whether I would get any laughs changed to awe as I looked over faces of all ages and color set behind black mortarboard caps and bobbing maroon and white tassles. This was important to them–it was lifechanging, and it was not being taken lightly.
Edith Williams was among those graduates–I had sought her out as we lined up for the procession. She had written a letter to the Vice President of Education expressing her appreciation, her plans and her dreams upon graduation. It came to represent for me everything our school and this ceremony stood for–you see Edith was there with her husband, son, and grandson. And when I asked her to stand after reading aloud part of her letter, she was not the only one with tears in her eyes.
[Edith Williams & Cor Vink]
Somehow, bigger–that’s my impression of Ashworth University’s first high school graduation ceremony. It was much bigger from where I stood.
Bill Tinkler
AUHS Principal
Ashworth University
