Graduation Memories
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
Commencement time of the year is a wonderful occasion when we can celebrate steps in our educational progress or those of our children, grandchildren, and others.  It is a time of reflection, contemplation, and joy.  For some it is a time of memories.
 
The 1960 graduating class of ShenandoahHigh School of which I was a member celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.  A special celebration was held at historic Stevens Cottage in Shenandoah, Virginia.  I was out of the country at the time and unfortunately could not attend.  My memories of high school days were jogged by a booklet put together by one of the class members that included our graduation year photograph, a recent photograph, and a short biography.  I was surprised to see how my classmates had aged!
 
It was great fun to remember each of my classmates and the great times we had together.  From the bios I found that 22 of the 41 members of the class went on to college at some level reflecting our class motto:  "Not finished, just begun."  Seven of us taught school for at least a part of our careers.  Seeing one of our class sponsors, Mrs. Kite, in the photograph taken at the celebration reminded me so clearly of the impact that she had on my life.  I was a junior, and she was the first counselor the high school had ever had, working part-time as counselor and teaching the remainder of the day.  She called me into her office and said some words to me that I had never dreamed of hearing and that transformed my life.  "Kenneth," she said, for no one called me Ken in those days, "it is time for you to think about applying to college!"
 
No one in my immediate family had been to college, and no one had suggested to me that I could or should go.  "You meet people every day who have been to college, and there is no reason you should not go," she explained.  I never forgot that conversation and the impact it had on me.
 
Although not associated with my graduating class but sparked by the celebration was a conversation I had with Mr. Peffer, the barber, whose barber shop was on Post Office Hill in the Town of Shenandoah.  When I went for my last haircut and explained that I was leaving the area, he assured me that I would have no problem being successful.  As he explained, "You have grown up in the country where you have always had to work hard; you will be successful because you will always outwork everyone else."
 
The little celebration booklet included some other information about our class.  I had forgotten winning the first public speaking high school forensics program our school had ever entered.  In the class Will, my front row seat in government class was willed to another student who may have loved government class as much as I did.
 
There are many other memories as I know you have from your past.  Thanks for reading these, and I would gladly share more if we have a chance to talk sometime.