K-M Class of 2009: These kids are alright

Like most teenagers, I couldn’t wait to get out of high school.

And though today when I look back on my days at Whitney Point Central High School (graduating class size: 119) with the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, I see mainly the fun parts and my total lack of any real responsibility – I would not go back if given the option.

College, yes. But high school, no.

I was glad to get out and have rarely gone back (though thanks to the wonder of e-mail I have been able to contact the teachers who really made a difference for me).

Even on The Job, going back to a high school is slightly uncomfortable, reminding me of my own awkward years.

In the past two weeks, however, I had the opportunity to go back to Kent-Meridian High School on two separate, non-story-gathering situations. In one visit, I talked and the kids listened and in the other, they talked and I listened.

It was a good time and I recommend it to any community members out there.

First, on April 30 I had the opportunity to speak at Career Day, talking to interested (well, mostly interested) teens about what it means to be a community journalist and answering their questions about the gig.

Then, May 7, I was asked to come back and serve as a community member on for the oral presentation part of the senior culminating project

And you know, not only was it not as bad as I expected, I actually enjoyed both events quite a bit.

Career Day is always fun for me, since I love my job and love to talk about it. My classroom was never overflowing, but it was never empty either. All of the sessions treated me with respect – more than a guy like me deserves anyway – and at least pretended to be interested as I prattled on about the day-to-day life of a small-time journalist.

I even enjoyed the kid whose first question was “Where’d you get that haircut?” because I too would have taken advantage of any idiot who told me “ask any question you want.”

I will, however, admit to being a bit leery about heading back for the presentations. I’d heard they could be dreadful.

But the senior presentations, a multi-media presentation that sum up the student’s high school experience and plans for the future, provided a fascinating look into the lives of a small sample of (what I can only assume to be) typical K-M seniors.

Let me tell you something: Times have changed since my high school days.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago to me (though some of the kids in the high school were not yet born back when I was trying to remember my locker combination), but the simple fact is that things are different today.

I didn’t have nearly as much homework as do the kids I talk to today, nor did I have to worry about any of these “culminating project” things the kids now have to do in order to graduate (nor do I fully understand their usefulness, but that’s a different column…).

And while I had to contend with the wily New York State Regents Exams, I graduated in a pre-No Child Left Behind world so even if I couldn’t have managed the state-wide exams, back then I could still have graduated. I saw a handful of kids during my time watching presentations and each student was different and unique. Only one did not pass the presentation, but he will next time and should graduate.

But we saw a full spectrum of student life, from a student raising a baby and just looking to graduate and get started on a real job supporting his new family, to a special-needs student who has risen above all of his challenges and will graduate with varsity letters in two sports. There was a very impressive young woman who has had her share of difficulties at home and a non-native English speaker who in two years learned enough of our language that all of us adults were impressed. There was even a student who will graduate next month with both his high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree (thanks to the Running Start program).

Taken as a whole, it is an impressive collection of teenagers all poised and ready to take on their futures, whether at trade schools, colleges or straight into the real world.

In all, I was quite impressed with the students I’ve seen at K-M in the past few weeks and the teachers and administrators at that school should be proud of the classes they are turning out, especially under difficult financial conditions and a tough neighborhood.

Overall, two visits in two weeks has left me whistling a tune from my parents g-g-generation: Despite what you may hear about the terrible state of youth in this country or state or whatever, rest assured that from what I’ve seen, The Kids are Alright.

Congrats to the Class of 2009.