On June 5th, CJA’s 18th class walked across the stage as graduates. During the ceremony, I reflected on how blessed I feel to have spent time with these young men and what I have learned from them over the last six years. Whether I was coaching them on the basketball court, chaperoning a field trip or playing UNO! at lunch, one thing has always been clear: these young men leave their mark wherever they go.
Our graduation speaker was Dr. Quentin Youmans, a cardiologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine where he specializes in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology. During his speech, Dr. Youmans read some of a poem, “Footprints,” by Michael Bell, one of his former patients, that applied perfectly to this moment and the future for our graduates.
“‘Leave loving footprints in the world… with sandcastles along life’s seashores…and the waves will never wash away…the kingdoms you’ve created.’
“I love that poem. Leave LOVING footprints. What it signifies is that everywhere we go we leave our marks. Whether that be at a school, or at basketball practice, or within our gaming communities, or at church. We leave a mark. It is our choice to determine whether the mark that we leave is characterized by Love or not.”
We are grateful to Dr. Youmans for taking time out of his busy schedule to get to know our students and impart such important advice as they get ready to take on the world outside of CJA. The choices this class has made can truly be characterized by love. Our experiences with them will certainly leave footsteps of love for all who follow, and we can’t wait to see how big their footprints will be as they step into the world beyond CJA.
We are grateful to Dr. Youmans for taking time out of his busy schedule to get to know our students and impart such important advice as they get ready to take on the world outside of CJA. The choices this class has made can truly be characterized by love. Our experiences with them will certainly leave footsteps of love for all who follow, and we can’t wait to see how big their footprints will be as they step into the world beyond CJA.
In gratitude,
Jae Rule
Development Officer (CJA ’13)
We do not recognize a valedictorian at our commencement ceremonies. Instead, we give five awards in recognition of our graduates’ progress toward our Grad-at-Grad values. In special years, we also give a Phoenix Award, which we were proud to present again this year.
“When Jahari made a mistake, he would say, ‘This mistake will produce a stronger, better me – a me that will be able to look back on something embarrassing and instead have only pride at how far I’ve grown rather than regret I made the mistake in the first place.’ That attitude is pure gold. If I could bottle it and feed it to my son, you can bet I would do so in a heartbeat.”
– Mr. Houlihan, in recognition of Jahari
“Evan, you have a special heart…Thank you for showing us all what it means to put someone else above yourself. You have poured your heart into spaces that truly needed you, and you have inspired me to do the same.
James is the light in every room he walks into… you have shown us all what it means to set the world on fire. You ensure that everyone around you is well taken care of, especially your sister. Thank you for showing us what it means to protect those around you with a loving heart.”
– Mr. Palmer, in recognition of Evan and James
“Aston tries to put himself in others’ shoes. I can think of no better way for a middle schooler to show love than by practicing empathy on a daily basis. Aston has a superpower of refusing to judge others. He leans into his life’s code: always be kind.
Kyhrin knows the gravitas he holds and he chooses to do good with it. He chooses to uplift, to inspire, to respect, to empower, and to love. Why? I think the only answer can be found in his code…always try your best, and always be yourself.”
– Mr. Mason, in recognition of Aston and Kyhrin
“Jarvis is the kind of learning partner that will make anyone feel included in the group, making them feel like their ideas matter, and that they matter. When he walks into the classroom, his peers are visibly more comfortable… He is a leader and an example for his classmates and community to become more understanding, empathetic, accepting, and generous with others, and that is what the world needs now. ”
– Ms. Mortenson, in recognition of Jarvis
“I still remember when Jamarion first came to our school as a seventh grader. What stood out immediately was his mindset. Even after being told he did not need to complete all the previous homework assignments, he asked if I could still help him with them anyway. When I asked him why, he simply said, ‘I just don’t want to miss out on any learning.’ That right there is intellectual excellence.”
– Ms. Venkat, in recognition of Jamarion
“The phoenix is a mythical bird that regenerates itself from the ashes only to emerge brilliantly and to set the world aflame. CJA’s Phoenix award is all about our students’ ability to rebound and start again stronger than they were before.”
“JaCobi is willing to share his ideas aloud, willing to make the mistake, admit the mistake, and learn from the mistake – all the while being unafraid to be his authentic self. His confidence allows others around him to take risks. As he rises, his peers, too, feel like they can rise. They see the steady example before them, the trust, the persistence, and they think, ‘If he can do it, I can do it too.'”
– Mr. Houlihan and Mr. Mason, in recognition of JaCobi
This graduation is just one of many moments that leave us impressed by the hard work and achievements of our students. We know so much is in store for these gentlemen down the line, but we would be remiss to not acknowledge the many who had part in making this journey possible – our teachers, staff, benefactors and most importantly, parents. Your support and care has created a space for these young men to develop their talents and prepare to use them to make the world around them better. We don’t get to days of celebration like this without you. Thank you.
