Last night, over 190 Social Circle High School students were honored for various reasons. Most of theses honorees were seniors who collected accolades for high performance in the classroom, on the field of competition and in leadership roles. Some seniors were able to walk out of the gym last night with scholarships that they won. The Class of 2018 walked away with well over $200,000 in scholarships! This is a testament to their hard work and willingness to go the extra mile. While working the huge table of awards and listening in to the event, I was reminded of some important things, and I would like to share them on this blog.
1) Our community is GENEROUS! There were 25 different organizations who came to this event last night to make an investment in the life of at least one (many of them gave multiple scholarships!) SCHS senior. They worked fund raising events, gave personal money, begged friends and neighbors for contributions, all just to make an investment into the life of a kid with a dream. I could not be prouder of this community and what its values are. A huge thank you is well deserved!
2) Our students have HUGE HEARTS! One of the coolest moments in the program last night was when a student from our senior class took the microphone and announced that a student-led organization made it their project this year to raise money for a scholarship that they wanted to give to a fellow student who has made a huge impact on many kids' lives here. This is one of the greatest examples that I have seen of thinking more highly of others than self. "There is no other act of love greater than this- that a man would lay down his life for another" is a quote I've heard said on several occasions, and in the world of honors night celebrations where we are most interested in "what did I win?" or "what did MY kid win?" this was a great reminder to me of this time-proven principle. To those kids who did that last night- you taught me some good stuff and have given me a story to tell in this office to those who would come behind you. Thank you.
3) We can do MORE! While last night was great, we can do even more, Class of 2019, 2020, 2021... Work harder in your classes than you want to. Dare to take chances that put you in situations where you will be stretched as a person. Join a club; lead that club to do stuff that matters; seek to lead, than to be led; volunteer your time; create things/art/opportunity/ways to make your self better- just create! Remember it is not just your classmates you are competing with- it is the rest of Walton County, the State of Georgia, The Nation and the world. Aristotle said "Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them." Do everything to be worth of honor and it (honor) will surely come.
Students,
If I don't see you before school gets out have a great summer doing this stuff!
