Graduation

I think everyone who reads my blog is on Facebook, so I thought I'd write about the new profile pic I posted. It's of this year's graduation at Foothill High School, and because I was retiring I got go be one of the 4 "shakers" who shook hands and posed with graduates after they got their diplomas. But I posted it not because I was in the picture, but because of the young man with whom I'm shaking hands. His name is Baldwin. Baldwin and his sister came to Foothill in the fall of 2005--right after Katrina destroyed their home in downtown New Orleans. He is one of the reasons I get very defensive when anyone disparages public education in California. You can see he is very large, and our initial contact with him saw visions of him leading our basketball team to their best season in recent memory. When they enrolled, I took the time to check out their schools in New Orleans. His sister went to the neighborhood school--where only 3% of the seniors passed the Louisiana High School Exit Exam. I'm guessing that exam is not as difficult as the California one. Because of his athletic potential, Baldwin went to a magnet athletic school--where 50% of the students passed the exam. Now Foothil High School has a rather rigid curriculum, and they both understandably struggled from the start. Baldwin's sister and mother moved back to New Orleans as soon as it was habitable. Baldwin wanted to stay, and one of our families graciously allowed him to move in with them. He tested and qualified for special services, and--as you can see from the picture--passed the CAHSEE and graduated with his class.
If you looked at his athletic career at FHS, statistically it wasn't memorable. He played football the last two years, but not very much. He was on our varsity basketball team this year, and though he also didn't play much, they won their first league championship in 19 years. I think Baldwin's teammates would tell you he played a big part in that championship, not because of how he played, but because of who he is. His impact on that team and the rest of the students at Foothill High School is immeasurable. He started the next-to-last game of the year, got the biggest ovation, and played very well. His mom had made the trip to see him play, and I can only imagine what she was thinking as she watched FHS love her son. On senior night at home, his was by far the biggest cheer when introduced.
Katrina destroyed many lives and much property. But I think she saved Baldwin's life. Because of caring students, staff and parents that make up the Foothill community, and because of his own hard work, he has a future. I don't know if his high school in New Orleans could have done that for him. He's back in Louisiana now, and his FB posts are full of his desire to get back to Cali and of his friends who can't wait to see him again. And I had the honor of shaking his hand when he got his diploma.