I have one emotion above all else.
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| Chloe (L) as a senior, and as a 3-year-old trick-or-treater. |
There’s pride and appreciation, of course.
There’s enjoyment and satisfaction. But as my daughter Chloe will be among the
375 students who graduate from Springboro H.S. Saturday evening, I have one
emotion above everything else.
I’m so happy for her.
I’m so happy she had a wonderful experience in
her 13 years as a Panther.
I’m so happy she’ll forever look back on her
school days with a fondness and a smile.
There are so many reasons for that positive
experience.
First and foremost, I credit her teachers and
principals, who were on the front lines each morning between the good days and
the bad, and between the subject matters that came easily for her and those
that didn’t.
Chloe was blessed to be led by the best, from
Ann Sundstrom in her days at Jonathan Wright to Sandy Wray at Clearcreek
Elementary (a Springboro icon), to Bruce Lewis at Springboro Intermediate, and
to Andrea Cook at the junior high school. Last, and certainly not least, she
benefited from Dr. Ron Malone for four years at the high school.
Good principals set the overall tone and tenor
of the people who work inside their buildings. When properly set, teachers
thrive. And when teachers work in a good environment, the students are the
ultimate beneficiaries.
On behalf of my daughter, I say thanks.
Chloe was also taught by the best.
While rocket science isn’t a subject in
kindergarten and first grade, something far more important is. Chloe learned
basic principles that are important not just in school, but also in life.
Stephanie Roederer and Nicole Ockerman taught her the value of structure and
timeliness, and – more importantly – that a respectful reassurance was way more
motivating than a demeaning putdown any day.
Thanks.
In fourth and fifth grades, Chloe won the
educational lottery by having Judy Metzger as a teacher both years. When
someone writes a new textbook on what elementary school teachers should be
like, an entire chapter should be devoted to Mrs. Metzger. She was smart and
funny, firm but fair, and everything in between.
Think about it. Mrs. Metzger had a direct
influence every school day when Chloe was an emotional, growing adolescent. Do
I think that’s played a role in Chloe being the beautiful person she is today?
You bet.
In junior high and high school, Chloe had so
many good teachers, too many to name here. All of them played a significant
role in her education and development, even if they taught subjects or used
methods that didn’t exactly jive with Chloe’s personal wants. She benefited
from all of it.
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| Chloe on football Friday nights with the Panthers. |
Stephanie Jordan, you sparked a passion in
Chloe for English and grammar that continues to this day. Shari Malone, you
inspired her to read more. Joyce Cook and Art Burton, you showed her that math means
more than just 33% off what Chloe wants to buy. Jenny Cooper and Lindsay Sav,
you showed Chloe what it means to be a smart, confident, successful young
woman.
There were many, many more. To all of you,
thanks.
CHLOE HAS ALSO prospered because of some
excellent friends. Yeah, sure, they’ve all been stinkers to one another a time
or two, but they’re all good kids. When I hear old cronies complain that
today’s kids lack proper manners and discipline, I quickly disagree.
Chloe’s been surrounded by students who are
smart, talented and responsible.
Delaney Ikirt has always called my wife “Mrs.
Chloe’s Mom.” Sydney Walker and Cassidy Holtrey have been the voice of reason
whenever Chloe has wanted her own way. “Chloe, listen to your mother.” Conrad
Lamb, Chloe’s boyfriend, has always been her best friend.
Though I am clearly biased, I believe this
Class of 2013 is one of the finest the school has ever had. It has succeeded in
so many areas, namely academics and athletics. The leaders of tomorrow were
raised here.
Jake Johnson has given this class the motto it
should remember for all time (and should be shouted at graduation): “I…I
believe…I believe that…I believe that we….I believe that we will win.” And then
they should all jump up and down like they did before every football and basketball
game.
To all of Chloe’s friends, and you know who
you are, thanks.
BUT I’M ALSO HAPPY for Chloe because she’s
made so many correct decisions to become such a hard-working and likeable young
woman.
Like her mother, she’ll make her way in this
life because she’s not afraid to work. And like her mother, she likes to be
involved. She knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to go after it.
It’s been so nice to hear from so many parents
and her teachers: “We just love Chloe.”
She’s been active with the yearbook, the
student council, and as an aid for Dave Stuckey, a teacher she had as a
freshman. She’s also held a few part-time jobs – at The K, at my law office the
last two summers, and now as an assistant shooting weddings with local legend,
Max Surikov.
She stays busy.
She’s also been a cheerleader since the third
grade. For her, the role gave her a chance to feel involved with the football
and basketball teams. For me, it gave me a reason to go to all the games and
resurrect briefly the sportswriting career I stepped away from 25 years ago
when I became a lawyer. It’s been fun.
I’ve always accentuated what it means to have
“The Heart of the Panthers.” And now Chloe has lived to embody it.
Though she’s ready for the next chapter in
life, which means college in the fall, she leaves Springboro with the feeling
that it was all good.
As her father, that’s all I could’ve ever
asked for.
So, during this graduation weekend, there’s
pride and appreciation and the satisfaction of a job well done. But, for me,
there’s one other more important emotion.
Good for you, Chloe. Good for you.
Jeff Kirby is an attorney and writer who lives
in Springboro. He can be reached at jeffkirby1@aol.com
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| Chloe loves her family. Here, she's at a Reds' game with her cousin Sophie and their beloved Aunt Julie, who they lost six months after this picture was taken. Julie was a valued influence in all the children's lives. |