Google says that “Graduation is the successful completion of a course of study at a university, college, or school, for which you receive a degree or diploma.”
I have been to over 35 graduations in my lifetime…. 3 of them were mine! Berkner High School (go class of 1986!), Texas Tech ‘89 and the most recent and important - Hugley Cardiac Rehab!
Graduations are exciting! They make you pause and reflect on what you have learned and how you will use it into the next chapter. Now, I can honestly say that I haven’t formally used all the classes I have taken in my life(Algebra 1 & 2). However looking back, I did learn life lessons in each of those classrooms.
Most importantly, I look back and see how my classes were like little families- some much closer than others. The educators were the “parents” and the kids were the big group of brothers and sisters. Like every family, some got along, some didn’t.
As I look back on the teenagers I taught, I hope they remember our class as a family and there was a family atmosphere where we cheered each other on despite not always siding with each other. I hope they remember learning to respect each other and their differences and similarities. Mostly, I hope it prepared them for life a little bit and they knew they were loved!
My most recent class was different for me - the teacher/coach became the student/athlete. I wasn’t Mrs. Cullen, Momma C, Cullen, Coach Cullen, Miss America or the numerous things I was addressed throughout the years. I was simply Keli. I was the kid in class - or the gym.
Don’t get me wrong - I loved it! I am a self proclaimed life long learner! However, it is hard to revert sometimes. I spent so long working on teaching and helping others that I almost forgot about working on myself. Thus, this is how I came to be in cardiac rehab.
On my first day I was the “new kid” I was quiet (no comments) and I was just taking it all in. Now, it wasn’t like the typical “family” per say when it came to classrooms. Instead of one parent (we had 5 “adult family members”) two, the main physical therapists, were like the mom and dad and the other three, the two nurses and respiratory therapist, were our fun aunts! There were about 10 of us “kiddos” from 7:30 to 8:30 three times a week. We probably ranged in age from 50-85! We were a funny group! Like all families, some days were better than others. We would laugh and mess with each other. It was easy to see who the “loud” children of the family were. We had 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weights and bands! I loved it!!!! Our sessions were a time where we encouraged one another and also empathetic to each other on our bad days - but at least we were there, right?. It was progress and it was helping all of us!
A couple times there were some new parental figures (physical therapists) with us. They apparently were starting this same program at another hospital. One morning one of them came over to check on the status of my treadmill activity and he asked if I was ever a teacher. I told him that I was… long story short, he was my former student all grown up and he had become a physical therapist! He told me he would always remember my class and what it taught him - I was so happy! I was also so happy for him and what he had become, yet felt awkward. He was seeing me in a way he wasn’t used to. I was always in front of my classroom or all over the place in a great mood and never struggling- if I was, the students never saw it. Here I was building myself back into a place physically where I could be that energetic, positive person. I think it was a wakeup call. It was time to be that person again!
As the weeks went by, some of the students “graduated.” They played the “graduation song” and got to walk around the track high-fiving everybody! I wasn’t far from that day. I had been working hard and promised our “mom and dad” that I would take everything I learned and use it in real life!
Finally my day came, I finished my last workout, I got to do the ceremonial walk around the track and was handed a t-shirt and diploma! I was happy and sad at the same time! I had always told my students to appreciate the time in our classroom because you would never have this same “family” again and may never see some of them after graduation. I felt this way with my little rehab class. They became a part of my life last fall. I think about them often and hope more have graduated, the ones who weren't feeling well- I hope they are better. I am thankful for “my brothers and sisters” and the “parents” of our little group and pray that they keep touching lives and helping others as they did me. Everyone of them made an impact!
They say sometimes family doesn’t have to be blood. I’ve had lots of little “families” through the seasons of my life - I am thankful God put me in each one because I wouldn’t be who I am today without each of them.
KELI’S KORNER - What seasons in your life have brought together new groups of people? Do you still keep in touch? Surprise someone and contact them - catch up - or simply tell them why you are grateful for them! It will make their day - YOURS TOO!