Let Your Light Shine
Orange County Correctional Facility's Inaugural High School Graduating Class-Once burdened by sorrows, found joy and triumph in their excellent achievements.
As I reflect on the past few months after the publishing of "The Book: Poems, Short Stories, and Essays”, my heart swells with gratitude.
This remarkable journey, which began two decades ago, has taken unforeseen turns and led to moments of profound significance.
It was twenty years ago that I embarked on a path as a site liaison and lead teacher within a correctional facility situated in the city of Orange. The facility catered to 18-year-old males, and our primary objective was to ensure the successful completion of the California state-mandated curriculum, enabling these young individuals to graduate with high school diplomas.
The inaugural graduating class achieved outstanding success, demonstrating excellence in all their subjects. As educators, together with our students and their parents, we basked in a shared sense of pride and accomplishment.
The preparations for the graduation ceremony were infused with joyful anticipation. Careful attention was given to every detail, from the precise measurement and ordering of caps and gowns to the meticulous invitations extended to parents, esteemed school district officials, prominent probation officers, and a representative from the sheriff’s department.
Rehearsal sessions evoked both laughter and heartfelt sentiment as these towering young men, standing at a remarkable six feet, playfully maneuvered their gowns, eliciting clever remarks and jests, reminiscent of cheerful clowns. This light-hearted scene, while humorous, also carried a touching undertone, revealing the genuine happiness and smiles on these young faces. For a fleeting moment, their past sorrows, errors, doubts, and fears were swept away by the winds of joy.
This day was unequivocally theirs, marked by grandeur and ceremony. I had the honor of inaugurating the proceedings with a warm and welcoming address as the Site Liaison. However, as I grappled with the task of articulating words of inspiration, wisdom, and foresight to honor the profound achievements of these young men in front of their parents and the captivated audience, I felt a moment of uncertainty. Yet, in a stroke of divine inspiration, the right words found their way onto a humble paper napkin. These enchanting words set the stage for a magnificent and inspiring poem that proudly stands as the opening piece in the book.