Tuesday, May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020, Graduation


         The village of Mink Creek has four young men graduating from high school this year. It is a year like no other and their lives have shifted in unexpected ways. Each one has missed being with friends and being in an actual classroom with teachers for one on one assistance. All the hours that they have needed to spend in front of their computers at home has been a challenging experience but also created some learning in areas unplanned. Some online stuff was slow slogging with computers not always being user friendly. All the senior plans of the big prom, the special privileges given to the senior class, no yearbook signing, etc. went out the window for the entire student-body and there has been some disappointment with that. Senior Projects that were moving to completion were suspended.
          Andrew Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, had high expectations this year fortrack season, having done very well in his events last year. He managed to get in some practices with family and friends, but missed having any type of competition to conclude their season. Andrew has received a mission call to Queretaro, Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His current plan is to leave for Mexico on July 7, 2020, where he would be in the Mission Training Center for several weeks before assignment to his first field of service. Here too, it is 'wait and see' because the MTC there is still closed due to the COVID19 virus.
         Calvin Henderson is planning on going into a computer coding and game design program. His parents are Shoni and Brady Henderson. He loves photography, video editing, photoshop, graphic design, and making hilarious videos! He has actually really enjoyed doing school online, but misses his friends and teachers. Calvin says that it still doesn’t seem real -- that he’s actually done, but hasn't been 'at school!' Although he is bummed that he missed prom and the rest of the year, he is still excited for the future. He has a great attitude to be a part of the class of 2020 “The one with the pandemic.” It is a history lesson he didn't expect.
           Austin Corbett, son of Shane and Sherrie Corbett, is an amazing young man who has dealt with some extra challenges during these school years. He has grown in many ways over the last few years in high school. One of his interests is heavy equipment, the big stuff. He loves to see how they work and make them even work better. This summer Austin will be working with his grandpa doing construction. Beyond that, he hopes to go off to trade school to get more skills. He dream is to own his own company in construction. Austin was so sad to have school moved to home, missing friends and his school teachers. He has an amazing heart for others! He looks out for others in ways a person would never guess!
           One of our seniors, David Seamons, left for summer work in the middle of April. He is part of a sales crew selling pesticides in the Vancouver, WA area with Rico Crosland and two more Seamons brothers, Sam and Ben. David is the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons. He is finishing school online while on the job. His plan is to earn money for his mission, attend BYU in Provo, UT, in the Fall and then go on his mission. He has missed lot of senior activities, but he felt good about getting on with his life and starting to work.

         This 'news' is not the usual. We are proud of these four, we are always proud of our graduates. The last few months have turned everyone's lives around and our expectations, our routines, have been a bit like the game “fruit basket upset.” Almost from day to day, there is that feeling of suspension and we gingerly move forward to move out. Hopefully before too long a semblance of normal will return, and at the same time we will have learned some important lessons as to what really matters in our lives.


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