This letter will be one of several written by teachers to appear in the Central Times in May. I was limited with space, please don't take anything personally if a good memory was left out, it wasn't intentional. I love your class mucho.
Class of 2013,
I have seen a lot of you. I have coached, sponsored, dined, and taught you (some of you have had me 3-4 times thanks to electives and my ever changing schedule). And through spending all this time with you, I have come to see that you are a pretty special group. I remember first thinking this your 9th grade year while coaching Tad, Hares, and Vasu in tennis in the Spring, and all the volleyball girls in the Fall. You all worked hard. You all had a fighting spirit, as well as an ability to get along even when you didn't agree. Then your 10th grade year, I was reminded of this again, when I had so many of you in English. I've never had another group like you all. We had theme days, we rewarded effort with class parties, we made inside jokes about other teachers and even kids in our own class. That was the year I started the VIP section of the room. Because of you all I added the table to my desk so more of you could sit in that section. You encouraged me to sing loudly in class, we all encouraged Boom Boom to dress more sophisticatedly, that is when we started harassing Troy about his dreaminess, and we both learned while having fun.
I am really going to miss you guys. Through tennis, volleyball, Y-club, the classroom, my lunch table... I have been surrounded by you all, and I would be lying if I didn't think that next year the halls will feel a little empty, mentor block will feel a little dull, and the wall space around my room a little barren. There are so many things I won't be able to do again... not be able to ask Jessica and Olivia if they are twins, neither will I be able to use the term "Archiballed", nor will I ever be able to right up Robbie again and see that pitiful shocked reaction of his. I won't be able to fight with Hares over tennis, I won't be able to have Vasu to my menial tasks, I won't see Troy swish another 3 in a Central uniform, eat a Gruber cupcake, see Abbey stomp to the ref stand to argue a call... Andy's,Tyler's, and TJ's "big heads" will be a moot point. Will I hear another KJ Hall speech after May? Will someone roll their eyes like Autumn?? I could go on, and on, and on.
I will miss you guys, but I am excited for you as well. A majority of you have always been good at cutting through the bull crap, and unfortunately, high school is full of that. Due to awkwardness, insecurity, lack of attention, or whatever, a lot of high school kids just can't help but act ridiculously, and so many of you all were so very good at identifying that behavior and ridiculing it. We all drank the same "hatorade" and I always respected you for that. ( Remember, we booed seniors who came in our room, and everyone loved that class.) Thankfully, college dilutes that behavior somewhat, flushes those kids out, exposes their lack of coping and survival skills and sends them home. So congrats on almost being there.
I also know that many of you will do great things. Your class has always been motivated and hard working. I can only expect that attitude to carryover to your endeavors in college and work. I expect to see many of your names in the paper for sports accolades, college honor rolls, promotions, grad school announcements, etc. I don't expect to see very many of you in the grand jury indictments, or misdemeanor arrests in the Sunday paper. (If I should see any of your names in grand jury indictments for assault, I will only assume the victim had it coming and not think the less of you.)
So good luck, godspeed, and best wishes. My hopes for you all are that you will grow, but not change, because as a class I think you are pretty great.
Mr. Jeff "Craddizzle" Crady
