Jake's graduation

Sam Adams, a beloved Clarkston High School teacher, encouraged the 2018 graduating seniors to write their own book of life.  He said, "find out what you value and what brings you joy and make that the theme of your book."  

If I had a book of life, my grandson, Jake, would currently be the focus of my joy.  Look at these great smiles from an awesome young man.  

Jake filled his book with lots of stories of football and soccer.  After his team won a match with Cheney I overheard him tell his parents, "I'm sooooo happy."  He has dreams of playing soccer for a community college, so those games may continue to bring him lots of joy.

We...Karen, John, Bradleigh, and Austen, waited patiently for the ceremony to begin.  I noticed the program listed the names of all the graduates with these funky symbols behind their names.  Jake wore colored cords that indicated he was an honor student, a DECA student, and completed over 200 hours of community service.  

 I took a few notes during the speeches given by Sam Adams and Dan Lejameyer, the assistant principal.  Sam Adams said, "a lot of people will ask you where you are going after graduation and what you want to do, but a more important question is what kind of a person you are going to be.  Always be humble and kind and remember that courage is the glue that holds your book together.  Dan, when thanking the parents said, "when your kid moves out, you become a lot smarter."

 Jake completed over 200 hours of community service by volunteering at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, spending a lot of time with Shannon Stajowski, another volunteer who absolutely loved working with Jake and teasing him a time or two.  She sat through the long ceremony just so she could give him a big hug and offer congratulations!

I took lots of pictures of Jake hugging people - this sweet one of Grandma Delores.  I can tell that Jake values all those hugs and doesn't mind posing for the pictures, either.

More hugging pictures with Makinzie Packwood and Isabel

 Just a few more family pictures before they turned out the lights in the LCSC Activity Center.


Jake's favorite quote from John Wayne:

LIFE IS TOUGH...IT'S EVEN TOUGHER IF YOU ARE STUPID!