Senior Night for Soccer

High school sports traditionally have a senior night  - a game where the graduating players are recognized and honoured. Last night was senior night. It was a home game. I was really excited to see the posters. I saw them for football at the homecoming game and thought they were a great way to celebrate. 

The weather held which was wonderful. It was raining really hard in the morning.

I asked a very good photographer (who is an alumni) with top notch equipment to come to the game to take photos. I have been taking photos at the games but I wanted a break from that and to just watch soccer. He'll share his photos later since he is still in the middle of exams at UW.

After the game (which they won), the parents of the seniors gathered on the field. The coach reminisced about the seniors and all that they went through. One season was really rough in that many players dropped out mid season. They struggled to get enough players. One game was forfeited due to insufficient players. 2020 season was completely missing. He said that the boys leave very large shoes to fill. He also said that the parents have raised amazing young men. The assistant coach (his daughter) chocked up thinking about the fact that these boys were the first players she coached back in 2018.

Each player presented flowers to his mom. Some senior friends made small posters for each senior player and gave them to them after the game. Here is A with some friends.

Quite a few seniors came on to the field after the game to celebrate with A and the others. Here I am with fellow soccer moms. The mom next to me calculated that she has attended about 400 games in her son's career! Her son plays "club soccer" which is quite intense, in addition to school soccer.

The good news is that there will be a playoff game on Tuesday so this wasn't the very last soccer game. Towards the end of the game, A had an opportunity to score a goal. He has been playing farther up in the last few games. In the past he has typically played defense. A goal on Tuesday would be an amazing cherry on top!

The proud parents.

We paid for the poster so we get to keep it. Now, what to do with it? 

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Senior Banquet 2021

Our school as a tradition of honouring the senior students at a Parent Banquet. Usually this is held in the fall of the school year but COVID moved various events around. The banquet was held on a Sunday evening, the day after the school's fundraising auction. This was great since the decorations were still in place. The gym sure didn't look like a gym!

The food was catered by one of the teachers and her husband. We had a choice of pulled pork or brisket, mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, and other sides. Students in 10th and 11th grades worked as wait staff.

This is our table. The other boy (sitting next to A) is also going to Biola and will study engineering.

Each family was given one minute to stand up and speak about their graduate. After 60 minutes, some music would start to play, indicating that their time was up.

Here is what J had to say about A:

I tried to resist the urge to start this with a birth story, but it has to be noted that Alexander came into this world 3.5 weeks early. That's important because it meant he was born on August 30, instead of late September, and was able to start his formal education a year earlier. We joke that he just couldn't wait to get started learning. Alexander was an early reader. Once he was sitting in his car seat, age 2, while Sheila was driving near Seattle, where there are many auto dealerships, and Alexander suddenly said "HOT CARS". He had read the sign! He has always been a very committed student, and avid learner. We are very grateful that you have take our investment in private education very seriously and done the most with it.

 

Another great milestone was when Alexander was baptized upon his confession of faith, when he was 10. You have always had a very active brain and from a young age have asked challenging questions about God and faith, showing an independence of mind, without rebellion -- usually ;). This independence of mind is something that is quite central to your character. You don't just go along with the crowd, or do what everybody else is doing. This should serve you well as you move to the land of fruits and nuts, amid the world of cinema.

 

This is the point where I'm supposed to tell you to follow your dreams. But as you know that's not something I would ever say, because that's self-absorbed silliness. Instead, pursue your responsibilities. In the next chapter of your life, as a maturing young adult, don’t waste any time growing into the man God wants you to be. Surround yourself with people who have higher standards in everything, and then, pour out your life energy into the lives of others as God directs you.

 

We love you. We are very proud of you. You have a firm foundation. Continue to take serious things seriously as you have always done.

When the speeches were over, the superintendent spoke some encouragement for parents and students. I took a few photos of A with some of his friends. This is the last big event before graduation. 

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