His 9th Grade Graduation

It has been a long time coming but it finally came.  My son graduated the 9th grade and I could not be more proud.  Here in Costa Rica, passing the 9th grade is a big deal and to celebrate this momentous achievement, the kids get to partake in a ceremony honoring them and their accomplishments. For my son, it meant more than just receiving a certificate.  It meant two failed years of school, hard lessons learned and working the hardest he had ever worked in his high school career. 

School isn't easy for everyone and my son struggled for years.  He failed the 6th and the 7th grade.  It took him having to repeat the 7th grade for him to finally buckle down, take school seriously and become a studious child.  Putting school first meant turing off the cell phone and the video games when it came time to study for exams.  It meant making time to complete extra credit homework.  It meant paying attention in class.  And when it came time to do these things, he did them without any nagging or prompting from me.  To say I am proud is an understatement.  I have been waiting for his moment of maturity for years.

So he matured and became the student I knew he could be.  Even he is proud of all he was able to achieve this year.  Knowing it was going to be a hard year and knowing how important it was to pass, he took the bull by the horns and accomplished his goals.

He may not be a straight A student.  That is not what is important.  What is important is that he worked hard and did his best and his best was him graduating onto the 10th grade.  Way to go!!!