Debbie Banks is assistant professor of language arts at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKYCTC). Her husband, Darrel Banks, is an alumnus of Logan County High School.

As I got ready for yet another long and tedious graduation, my third of the season, I was not in the best of moods and secretly did not want to attend. This day was a graduation for my niece and was Logan County High School. I have always said that no matter what anyone says, he or she really would rather be doing anything other than attending a long graduation, no matter how happy for the graduate. May 21 was going to change my perspective and attitude for the graduation season.

My husband, Darrel, and I fought traffic and parked and trudged to Diddle Arena and found seats. We waited and watched the video of the graduates scrolling on the big screen before the graduation began. It was then that for the first time in all my years of going to graduations and graduating myself that I realized how special that moment when a name is called really is.

I listened as one of the speakers mentioned that a teacher did not realize ‘hotdog’ was a real word and how, despite her conservative views, another teacher had shaped his high school experience for the better because of the genuineness she showed for wanting students to succeed that transcended differences in political views. I listened as another speaker listed that a total of 1,140 hours of college credit was awarded to the graduating class, a student was getting a full scholarship to Amherst College, another was going to Murray State, one had 33 hours of college credit and a second had 30.

One speaker spoke of having graduated from the Gatton Academy at WKU, but that the student who squeaked by should be just as proud of accomplishing getting a diploma.

While all of those accomplishments was great, it was the moments that brought tears that made me realize how special that day really was and how important graduation is for each and every student. A special needs student got to the stairs to go and receive his diploma but was a bit too shy to tackle the steps. The teacher helping him asked for some encouragement and the entire arena clapped and stood up for him and he made it through.

Four students have signed to join the military for the Marines, Army and National Guard and the entire stadium again stood and showed their appreciation for their projected service to the United States.

I watched another very nervous girl fidget with her hands and while seemingly very shy force herself to make it across that stage and get that diploma. It is those things that, as a class, are special and make the ceremony unforgettable.

A teacher from my high school, Mrs. Coon, once said that graduation day was going to be one of the best days of our lives, but the day after would be one of the worst. There would never again be a time when all of us could be together and celebrate our accomplishments in the same place, and it would be sad to see our friends go on new adventures. She was both right and wrong. Right that we have never been together since, but we have shared college, jobs, adventures and misadventures, good times and bad, children and exciting experiences, but the hard work and time spent with each other in the past can never be taken away.

So, if you graduated this year and have a great plan all in place, fabulous! If you made it through and have no clue where to go from here and choose to attend Southcentral Kentucky and Technical College for nursing, welding, industrial maintenance, or want an Associate degree to prepare you for a 4 year college (any of which I highly recommend!), great! If you need a little time to decide, take it.

Whatever you do, just remember that you have already done great things and take that graduation moment to cherish forever! I know I will never again begrudge any graduate his or her day!