A Long Overdue Post

The end of my first year as a teacher was a blur. May was busy and complicated; Luke and Jo were preparing to leave the island for good (or for a while, at least), Philip and I were dreaming of vacation in Chuuk, finals were advancing upon us, students were restless, and we were all ready for the month to end. For me, things were complicated further with the almost-daily practice of graduation songs with the graduating seniors. Having a decent voice and a connection with the girls put me in charge of this task.

I brought in my iPod and all of the CDs in our house and let them go through all of it for a few days. They were particularly taken with "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks, but we decided it was too hard to sing. We finally settled on "In My Life" by the Beatles, and two other songs we wrote together. I wrote the lyrics for "Time to Say Goodbye" (I knew that "Introduction to Poetry" course from college would pay off someday) and a senior wrote its melody, and another song, "With You" was thrown in at the last minute, its origin completely unknown to me. We procured a keyboard, and a hidden talent of keyboard playing was revealed in one of the seniors, and we went to work. They decided to change the melody to "In My Life," which was almost upsetting for me, as it's one of my favorite songs, but I reminded myself that this was their graduation, not mine. We practiced, practiced some more, changed some things, then practiced more. We practiced sitting, practiced standing, practiced lying on the floor when we got tired, and doubled over with laughter when someone came in too early. I loved every minute, exhausting as it was. Pohnpeian women love to sing, I discovered, and they love to sing the same songs over and over!

The time finally came for Baccalaureate mass, followed a few days later by Graduation. Both ceremonies were beautiful and fun, and the girls looked perfect in the baby pink gowns and caps they picked out themselves. I teared up when they were handed their diplomas and Bibles, and watched each of their families honor them with mwaramwars, flower and shell leis.

As I watched them, I reminded myself that in a few months they would all be headed on to pursue higher education at the College of Micronesia. We had spent the entire year preparing for the mathematics section of the College of Micronesia Entrance Test, as I breathed down their necks, assigned copious amounts of homework, and reminded them daily that their futures were on the line. In January, all of their hard work paid off as every one of them tested into the National campus, where the quality of education is higher. In two or thee years, they will receive associates degrees, and then decide whether they want to leave the island to pursue bachelors' or higher education degrees.

The senior class, I'm told, started out with 29 girls, and five graduated on Tuesday, May 25th. From what I've come to learn about their lives from themselves and others, they have each overcome unique and great obstacles in their education paths. One, graduating at age 17, has a five-year-old son.

I am immensely proud of them.