Graduation: A Time to Rejoice, A Time to Reflect
by Pola Rosen, Ed.D.

June is a month of many emotions. For college graduates, it’s a time to discover if academic accomplishments can be translated into meaningful jobs and balancing personal budgets. For high school graduates, the excitement of college, new friends and mastery of college level courses lie ahead. For graduating mature adults, the promise of a new career, particularly in these difficult economic times, is eagerly anticipated. For little pre-kindergarten children, the applause and cheers from family members ensures that the graduation ritual will be equated with the flush of success.

“Don’t forget to tell my cousins Zachary and Alexandra in California that I graduated,” said my bubbly granddaughter Emily, as she ended her first pre-school graduation processional at the age of five.

As a teacher and former college professor, June was a time of reflection for me. I thought of all the students that had been in my classes during the year and the knowledge I had transmitted to them. Had I transmitted a love of learning and a passion for the subject matter? Would the students lead a richer life as a result of having passed through my classes? Knowledge alone was not enough.

I recall with a tinge of sadness, the words of a law school professor who once said to us, “We will probably never meet again after this class. I truly hope you learn a great deal and enjoy our time together.” Sharing a class with a group of students is a very special and memorable experience. I can remember vividly several gifted teachers, from elementary school to high school to whom I can directly trace my love of literature and music, poetry and biology. While we never met again, their lessons lingered far beyond the time we spent together.

In June we are honoring, for the first time in the hundred-year history of the New York City Department of Education, teachers from all parts of New York City, who have been mentors and leaders, who have inspired generations of students to have a love of knowledge. We pay homage to them at an awards ceremony at the Harvard Club in June and will feature them in two full pages next month. Politicians, academics, philanthropists and many others will acknowledge their work.

June would not be complete without a tribute to my father who is 93 years old, my first and foremost teacher, who shared his love of botany, astronomy, music and literature with me and my sister. He is still an active teacher, much beloved by his students who are senior citizens and enjoy the thrill of learning with him.#