You may have read the beautiful story that my colleague Jennifer Oliver O'Connell wrote, which was published late on Friday night as part of her Feel-Good Friday series. It involved a family getting the chance to see their baby girl with profound learning disabilities receive her college diploma at Clemson University, thanks to a dedicated program the educational institution has in place.
The heartwarming twist was that graduate's dad was not seated in the spectators' section at Clemson, though. He just happens to be the university's president, and had the honor of personally handing his daughter that golden ticket to a wider, more fulfilling future. But don't consider my pale summary of the video and O'Connell's piece as a replacement; I encourage you to read and watch the whole thing at the link below.
As graduation season begins to wrap up in the coming weeks, of course, other grads are hoping to experience their own walks in unique ways. And before anyone gets the wrong idea, I don't mean the stories you see in recent years, featuring young people pitching a fit because the high school or university they attend refuses to let them virtue signal their gender ideology or what have you as part of their commencement gown/attire. No, this story is about patriotism and catching a government entity--in a rare moment much like a stopped clock--making the common sense decision and doing what's right.
Daniela Rascon-Rivas, a senior at suburban Phoenix's Mesa High School, wanted to wear a military stole during commencement; she said it's something she earned while preparing to enter the Arizona National Guard--her next stop in life, according to KPNX-TV's report:
Her military stole was...accomplished through hard work and dedication. From rappelling down cliffs at Papago Park, disassembling and reassembling firearms, to knowing how to use a gas mask properly.
Mesa Public Schools released a statement explaining why it rejected Rascon-Rivas's request:
Mesa Public Schools deeply values and honors the service of our military members and enlisted students. Mesa High upholds a longstanding tradition of unity at graduation, in alignment with district policy 5-217.D and state law ARS 15-348, that promotes uniformity during the ceremony by limiting adornments on graduation attire. While stoles, including military, are not worn during the formal ceremony, Mesa High absolutely encourages families to bring their student’s stoles for photos and celebrations after the event.
The East Valley high school student and future guardsman spoke to KPNX-TV about what she termed a "disheartening" situation, saying "I have given my life to this country to serve them, and I can't even wear a simple piece of fabric."
She continued:
"All these achievements I worked very hard for and I can't even wear it on my big night. I honestly feel disrespected."
Any decision about dress code, including for school functions like graduations, could well impact students who attend other schools outside Mesa because of its size. According to Niche, Mesa Unified School District boasts the Copper State's largest school district, with 57,204 students enrolled, followed by neighboring East Valley district, Chandler USD Number 80 (42,832), and southern AZ's Tucson USD (40,929).
After receiving the bad news from MPS, the student "started an online petition to change it so that everyone can display their accomplishments at graduation."
Now, there has been a positive outcome as the school leadership announced one day before the Mesa High School graduation that the school district will change its rules to let grads wear military stoles during future graduation ceremonies:
The East Valley district said it is currently revising existing policy to formally include military stoles as permitted graduation attire.
The policy change came shortly after Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne urged MPS to allow students to wear military stoles.
"Graduation is one of the most meaningful events in a young person’s life and schools should acknowledge when students show the initiative to excel and serve our nation," Horne said in a statement on Wednesday.
This hopefully will serve as a life lesson for Rascon-Rivas--including one partly on humility and maturity--since she did not get everything she was asking for. She had also wanted to wear recognition on her outfit of her educational wins.
Regardless, she was able to walk on Thursday, May 22, while showing everyone the important choice she has made to serve others over self. KPNX-TV spoke with the grad after she got word on the exhilarating, yet humbling change:
“I was in shock. I started bawling immediately. I was surprised and most importantly grateful,” she told them. “It’ll mean that I can show my community that I’m serving the country and that my future classmates can also show their friends and family that they are also involved in the armed forces.”
It also means that, with Rascon-Rivas's proud family members and friends looking on, she was able to celebrate her accomplishments before heading off to serve her fellow Arizonans. Good for her!
Watch:
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