Tammy's Editorial!

Tonight we attended a "Step Up to High School" recognition night, where the eighth grade students of our local middle school walked across the stage while the guidance counselor read their name, some of their achievements, and a very brief statement about their hopes and dreams for the future. There were a few hundred students (less than 350), and some students didn't attend (their choice---attendance is optional). Preceding this "roll call," the superintendent briefly spoke, as well as the principal and the class president (all brief!)

It was a long event, with so many students. Several younger siblings were also attending (including Anna, who usually goes to bed at 8:30 p.m., and was up WAY past her bedtime tonight!), and they do have school early in the morning. As the evening progressed, and as some students already walked across the stage, many parents would send messages to their eighth grade student, and scores of parents and students from the beginning of the alphabet were leaving the auditorium.

Our last name is Zeigler. We're at the end of the alphabet. We were committed to staying to the end (our son was the last person called, so he received the loudest applause!---that happened to our daughter Abby two years ago, also!).

My personal feeling is that it's rude to leave (except for a dire emergency!). If a family can't stay for the entire evening, then maybe they should not attend at all. (That's my honest opinion!) Shouldn't those from the first half of the alphabet have enough courtesy to listen to the achievements and dreams of our kids, too?

Sometimes I think we try to cram our schedules way too full. It seems that for many events which I attend (church activities, school activities, etc.), people come late and leave early because they have about four or five places to be on that particular evening. When did society decide that it's okay to pop in on some things and "show our face" just to say we were there? I really think that we need to make some choices and commit ourselves to the important things, and just say, "no" to some other things that might be happening at the same time. Let's focus, instead of trying to spread ourselves so thin! (and being rude and discourteous to others).

Just my honest opinion! . . . . .