The month of May is a good one for parents with students in school. Graduation is key, and if you have high school athletes all the championships in Spring Sports are decided.  This is the first time in years that I have no skin in the game. My daughter Natalie graduated from college a year ago and is now out on her own.

Thinking back on her school days, which really started with her graduation from kindergarten. Hey, I have pictures to prove it. Her next six years were spent at Roosevelt grade school a few blocks from our house.  She excelled as a student, and found an interest in basketball. Next up was North Junior High School for the next three years. She kept up her grades and actually played on the basketball and tennis teams.

Boise High School was next with more straight A’s and more athletic feats. She abandoned basketball and concentrated on tennis. Her senior year she didn’t lose a match in the regular season and Boise tied for the State Championship. I didn’t miss a single tennis match and stopped calling the State Track and Field meet after 40 years so I could watch her in the State Tournament.

The University of Portland was next,  where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in four years. She spent her sophomore year in Europe, seeing and doing things I hadn’t even dreamed about. Her junior and senior years went by in a blurr.

Now she is living and working in Texas. There are no more grades on  which to  congratulate her. She is proud to be out on her own, but there is a hole in the Schneider house hold. May is here, there are no ceremonies this year, and no high school sports to call.  Life goes on, as it should. I would like to thank all of the instructors and coaches who helped shape my daughter into the delightful young woman she is today.