“Getting
what you want is not nearly as important as giving what you have.”
Tom
Krause
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
Have
you ever had your heart broken and full of joy at the same time? Well, it
happened to me Wednesday evening when my oldest daughter’s boyfriend purposed
marriage, and she accepted.
I
found myself standing in a dark hallway. I strained to hear what was
taking place in the adjacent room, hearing the voices of Nathan, my older daughter’s
boyfriend, along with the sweet tones of daddy’s little girl, my oldest
daughter, Nikki. Months earlier, while stopping for a visit, Nathan took me
outside and looked me square in the eye with an intensity I have never seen
before, showed me an engagement ring and asked if he could have my daughter’s
hand in marriage.
I
told him that I would be honored to call him my son-in-law, and gave him a
strong, hardy handshake knowing that the “wheels were now set in motion.”
So
here I stand in a darkened hallway, memories of my little angel flashing
through my mind. The days when I would carry her on my shoulders home
from the sitter’s house asking her, “What does a cat say?’
“Meow.”
“What
does a dog say?”
“Ruff.”
“What
does a cow say?”
“Mooooooooooo”
(she always liked that one).
Flashes
of father/daughter dances, elementary recitals, band concerts and volleyball
games. Images of those who broke her tender heart. The tears of growing up and
the joys of discovery.
Then
the words that we all came to hear chased the images away, as Nathan on bended
knee proclaimed his never-ending love for my first born and ask her to do him
the honor of becoming his wife.
Nikki
laughed, a nervous cackle, then uttered a word that pierced the air like the
breaking of glass, a word that changed my world forever, a word that sent
chills up my spine.
She
said yes.
I
instantly became weak in the knees. I just lost my little girl to another man. On
cue we stumbled out of hiding surprising Nikki to the point where she lost all
composure, sobbing uncontrolled as she embraced each of us in turn.
Champaign was served and soon tears became smiles and laughter, as I
soaked in the moment happy to have the chance to play a role in a lifelong
memory.
I
would never have had an opportunity to experience that precious moment if it
were not for Ms. Lancina, Ms. Duty, Ms. Huffman, and several others in the
office near the end of the school day Wednesday.
You
see, Wednesday was the day of our Honors Convocation, and though my role in this
event was minor, I felt that I still needed to do my job, to be there while my
students were honored for excellence in education. The problem was that
our Honors Convocation was scheduled to take place at 7 p.m., and Nathan wanted
me to be in Kalamazoo (more than a two hour trip) at 7.
I
have done countless times throughout my career, I was willing to sacrifice my
personal desires. I can’t begin to name all the birthdays I have missed.
But, the girls in the office told me to go, that this was a moment that could
not be missed.
Ms.
Lancina was willing to “cover” for me at the Convocation and my part was not
really all that important anyhow. I thank God that I have the opportunity to
work with such people. I thank God that I have the opportunity to work
with a staff that understands that I’m not just the boss, I am a human being
with all the frailties and weaknesses as everyone else.
I thank
God that I work with a staff that “has my back,” a staff that looks out for me
as much as I look out for them.
I thank
God that I am an Eagle.
I
only wish that those who are outside of the field of education knew of the
sacrifices we make for their children. How we commonly set our own lives
aside, sacrifice the needs of our own children and family for our students.
The fabric of our society has been built upon the backs of those who work
within our nation’s schools.
Remember,
their future is in our hands. Making Kennedy the school of Choice.
Excellence by design.
