To My 2023s, Each school year is filled with countless moments that, in the moment, seem insignificant. The opportunity I have to provide classroom support across subject matters and grade levels allowed me to share such moments throughout your middle school years before sending you off to high school. For some of you, I have been able to share more moments as I have followed you through your extracurricular activities throughout your high school career. Looking back, the significance of the moments comes in the people that shared in the moments and how they helped mold us into who we are today.
My defining moment for the class of 2023 is not a singular moment, but a collection of moments shared day after day in a seventh grade Intro to Spanish class. It was in those moments that the class of 2023 truly captured my heart.
In a class of around thirty students, about twenty-five of you were girls, and almost all of you were in athletics. I would soon be asked almost daily if I was coming to that week's game whatever season it may be. There are a couple of you who played practically every sport in middle school, and now, as your senior year is beginning, I have probably already watched you play more games throughout the years than I have any other student. After your time in middle school was done, you wasted no time making your presence known in high school as at least one of you was on varsity as a freshman in almost every sport. Even if you ended up at another school, I have been there to support you when I can.
There have been many exciting moments on the field, court, diamond, and track and there have been bittersweet moments as successful seasons have come to an end. However, an unexpected moment from your sophomore years stands out. The first game of your junior varsity season of volleyball, I got volunteered to line judge. When the coach asked, your moms pointed at me. Fortunately, I had watched a lot of your games over the years, because I had certainly never been trained. The best part was seeing your faces during the game as you realized it was me. It was the start of the COVID year, so there weren’t many people not related to you at the games to start the school year. I made sure I could be there! During your junior year, I was sidelined for a while with health issues during the spring semester, but you gave me something to look forward to and something to fight for. I watched games online as I was too tired, too weak, and too sick to attend in person. In my recovery, you were my motivation. I am often asked which student is mine and I claim all of you; I had to get back to watch my kids in person. Cards received from multiple teams lifted my spirits!
It was in that same Intro to Spanish class in seventh grade that I sat exhausted across from you one morning as my mom was sick and would soon pass away. You were concerned as I was clearly not myself and I made the decision that day to be vulnerable. I then thanked you for your concern and I assured you everything was going to be okay. You were doubtful but then you declared everything was going to be okay because my mom was going to heaven. I had never mentioned anything about religion or anything of the sort, but in your youthful wisdom you were able to read my heart.
I received gift cards from you and always wondered what the conversation must have been like as you explained to your parents who I am and what I do that made me deserving of a gift when your parents already had enough teachers to buy for.
By eighth grade, I heard “Hi Mr. Kepler” from you every day each time you saw me no matter how many times you saw me in a day. You always smiled when I needed it most and on my worst days you showed up to encourage me.
As your eight grade year drew to a conclusion, you suddenly came to the realization that our time together was coming to an end as you asked, “What am I going to do without you in math next year?” We did a lot of math in three years and we dissected frogs, I hid behind your desk in history class, and I probably mixed up adjectives and adverbs in your ILA class. We even made it to the Dallas Zoo and back!
Middle school wasn’t always easy. You struggled to figure out who you were. You thought you were awkward. You had hopes and dreams for something bigger. For your final act as a middle school student, you affirmed that all of my efforts had been worth it as you gave me a hug during your eighth grade walk before exiting the school.
For three years, and as opportunity has allowed in high school, I tried my best to plant seeds of belief, with the hope that my belief in you would nourish your belief in yourself. I hoped that you would realize even now you are already so much of what you hope to become.
Your success is not determined by a grade book, a scoreboard, a judge’s score sheet, or a test score; and it certainly is not determined by a mirror! Your success is determined by your character - who you are and how you treat others.
Thank you for being who you are and for treating me with kindness!
I have enjoyed brief conversations as I have shown up to support you. I have enjoyed running into you as you were taking pictures, serving as a trainer, cheerleading, or just supporting your friends. As you have come to support your younger siblings, a brief conversation has brightened my day.
For my Denison, Pottsboro, and Howe students, I love you and I adore you! We have shared many great moments at camps, on mission trips, during Disciple Now weekends, and during countless other activities throughout your time in the Parkside Student Ministry. I pray that I have pointed you to Jesus and loved you well along the way!
To each member of the class of 2023, as you enter your senior year, do not underestimate your ability to impact the lives of others. Embrace each moment and do not take the people in your life for granted! I pray you all have a wonderful year! I'll see you soon!
The above is not to or about one student. Rather it is to and about the class of 2023 as a whole represented by multiple individuals. In the course of one sentence, "you" may refer to multiple students or a different student each time.
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