When you see a frog on a fence post...

If you are walking through a field and see a bullfrog on a fence post, then know in your heart that it did not get there easily.

In the last 10 days, I have attended two graduation ceremonies. One at Harvard University where my daughter, Elise was awarded a masters in counseling, and one at West Liberty High School where my niece, Christine earned an honors diploma.

I observed many similarities and dissimilarities between the two, such as the band from West Liberty played Pomp and Circumstance and Harvard’s band played a song I did not recognize. Both were very warm, one outside on Harvard Yard, and one in an un-air conditioned gym. The parents and students of one behaved impeccably, and the parents from the other learning institution could stand to learn crowd manners from West Liberty High.

West Liberty is a k-12 school in rural central Ohio, where most of the class of 2011 received diplomas in the same gym where they attended kindergarten orientation. Harvard is a school where a myriad of world cultures mingle together to form a learning community. Yet, the striking similarity I noted at the two graduations is one I alluded to earlier with my country analogy of a bullfrog on a fence.

We saw 7,000 graduated from Harvard on the Thursday before Memorial Day, receiving degrees ranging from bachelors’ to doctors of law, and 100 walk across the stage in the WLHS gym shaking the familiar hand of their principal and clutching their high school diplomas. None of the graduates whose honors I observed got there without help from others and personal sacrifice.

I cannot tell you if more pride emanated from Harvard’s graduation crowd of more than 20,000 crowded on the lawn in folding chairs and watching jumbotrons, or West Liberty’s parents and family members who fanned themselves with programs as they clearly saw the grins of their children as they held their diplomas and shook hands with each school board member. I know I felt my heart melt for the accomplishments and futures of both girls, one I raised, and one who looks like me. Neither walked across their respective stages and into the rest of their lives without hard work, dedication, long nights of study, sacrifice and countless hours in libraries when they would have rather been enjoying sunshine. All of the students have teachers and mentors who guided them along the path to their respective graduations.

Elise met her advisor on the first day of orientation who supported and nurtured her through the most difficult year of her life. When I had the honor of thanking her advisor in person, I could hardly hold back tears for the guidance she gave Elise.

Christine immersed herself in high school activity as much as a student is absolutely capable. Somehow, she ran cross country, marched in band, sang in choir, ran track, and played lead in not only the school musical, but community theater as well. To thank her individual coaches, music directors, and academic advisors would take more space that I allot, but I know there were many who helped that little frog up on her fence post.

While we know a bullfrog cannot make that ascending leap with such precision to land on a small post without strength, will power, determination and help – we also know all of these factors work together to sweeten this grand accomplishment.