Sioux Falls Washington High School graduation an inspiring reminder of the power and importance of diversity
My grandson graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls on May 18. WHS has a strong, diverse population.
The two student speakers were both Hispanic and honor students. One of the speakers was a young man who told the audience his father was deported when he was very young and he was raised by a single mother supporting 4 young children all by herself. He went on to say he was now going to Vanderbilt University. It was an amazing testament to the American dream.
Washington is probably the most diverse of the four public high schools in Sioux Falls. There was a group of over 30 people seated by us in the balcony. They were all dressed in African garments, men and women and children. When the young man from that family came up to receive his diploma, they stood and clapped and chanted words I did not understand but the joy was just overwhelming and touching.
After the ceremony, this group gathered in the lobby area and when the young man joined them, they surrounded him and started chanting and singing. Their joy was so moving.
I told my son that I wish I had filmed it to show the world the joy of these immigrants celebrating the graduation of their child and family member. Obviously, they relished their child graduating from a school in America, their adopted home.
I wish we all could understand the plight of immigrants and the joy they feel when their children accomplish something great in their new country. They face challenges we can’t imagine. They face bigotry and disrespect and yet they work hard and celebrate the completion and achievement of their American dream.
The disrespect toward immigrants today is just appalling. They just want a better life. Why do we have to be such ugly Americans? There is room for everyone and the graduation ceremony proved that.
My grandson grew up and went to school with a very diverse group of kids from many nationalities. His friend circle is very diverse and has been so since elementary school. I believe it has made him a very empathetic, big-tent person. Asian, African-American, Hispanic kids who he never saw as different from him. They were his friends.
Graduation was so emotional on many levels.
Jennifer Holsen of Sioux Falls is retired from the city, where she served as director of human resources. She writes a blog on Facebook, Jennifer’s Musings, where this essay originally appeared.
Photo: Washington High School website
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