Ninety-eight beautifully bright, funny and intelligent 11 and 12-year-olds ended their tenure as elementary school kids last Friday. These kids are important to me because I have been their school counselor for the past six years. The following is the speech I gave to this class celebrating the gift they gave by allowing me into their lives.

We are here for a celebration - a celebration of life. The students you see before you are the first kids to spend all six years at Atlas Elementary School. Some students are new to Atlas while others attended the entire six years - all are Atlas Explorers. When these students entered school as 5-year-olds our school was new, this neighborhood was new and many wondered about the future of our Hayden children. I can tell you, the future of the children graduating today is brilliantly bright.

I love these kids. My life is better because of the time I spend with your children. Coming from Project CDA, the alternative high school in Coeur d'Alene, I was not used to working with little kids. I didn't know how important losing teeth is, how to properly blow a 5-year-olds nose and how often kindergarteners have an accident and need a change of clothes. I was not used to hugs, accidently being called mom and teaching how to tie little shoes.

I quickly learn how 5-year-olds love the adults in their life unconditionally. The children in this room taught me to accept unconditional love and the responsibility that comes with total, unwavering acceptance. These students taught me to be dependable, predictable, caring and nurturing. They taught me if I say I promise, I better produce. They taught me if I say I'm sorry, they would forgive me. They taught me to be a better man.

I personally and emotionally know each child graduating today and wish to share a few stories from their years at Atlas.

Mr. Jerome asked one of you, "Did you miss school yesterday because you were sick?" You replied, "No, I just needed a mental health day."

Three of our fifth grade male graduates were visiting the girl's bathroom on their second day of kindergarten. Startled to hear me yell into the bathroom as I investigated the sound of boys when I expected girl voices, the three exited the bathroom and stood at attention next to the sink. One of you burst into tears acknowledging your poor choice, another said, "I didn't do it." As I walked the threesome to the principal's office, the last boy yelled, "Stop Mr. Rutherford." Slightly grinning I halted the line and ask, "Why should we stop?" The little boy offered, "I know we shouldn't have been in the girl's bathroom and I promise, I learned my lesson, I will never get into trouble again." I thanked the little man for his candor and resumed the long walk to the principal's office. Surprised, the boy asked, "Hey, where are we going?" I told the boys they had to explain to the principal why they were in the girl's bathroom. The surprised last boy, shocked said, "Didn't you hear me? I said I wouldn't get into trouble again." He didn't keep his promise.

The same boy enjoyed having lunch with Mr. Freeby, the principal, as a second-grader. He entered Mr. Freeby's office carrying his lunch accompanied by three friends with a suspicious grin on his face. He placed his tray on the table and waited to sit until all others were seated. He slowly sat down and exaggerated the effort as a loud thhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh exploded from his chair as he sat. All boys laughed hysterically as Mr. Freeby shook his head and told the boy to give him the whoopee cushion until the end of the school day. Mr. Freeby WAS amused.

During a Christmas craft activity, a girl explained "Uh, Mrs. Yearsley, I can't put glitter on my Christmas tree." "Why not?" Mrs. Yearsley responded. "Well," she continued, "My mom won't allow glitter in our house!"

One of you drew a great picture of Captain Underpants for Mrs. Nelson. She still puts it up in her room every year.

A boy in this class blew up a rubber glove with middle finger extended during the second grade music concert practice.

One of you cried because you couldn't find your eraser, one of you cried because your friend told you that you were only her second best friend, three of you cried when your dad's went to fight a war and one of you cried when your mom died.

One of you wants to be a coworker when you grow up, one of you wants to be a shoplifter when you grow up and one of you wants to be an Egyptologist when you grow up.

One of you shared with Mrs. Couser, "My brother was in the hospital cuz he had lots of worms." Mrs. Couser thinks the child meant germs.

I held the hand of one of you everyday for a month when you were in kindergarten because you missed your mother terribly and one of you said I was the father you never had.

A sick child in the nurse's room is throwing up and has a high fever. I walk in the room to check on him. He sits up, smiles and declares with pride and a greenish-pale face, "Guess what? I haven't thrown up for two minutes Mr. Rutherford!" "Congratulations."

Mr. Burch remembers this exchange with one of you, "I was on playground duty last fall and a student ran up to say hello. She grabs my arm and exclaims, 'Gee, your arm is sure hairy!' Then she thinks for a moment and adds, 'But not as hairy as your nose, you have a lot of hair in your nose Mr. Burch!'"

Twenty-two of you have experienced your parent's divorce in the past six years, and 28 of you have become the member of a new family.

One hundred percent of the students in this room have someone who loves you. One hundred percent of the graduates have a friend in this room and 100 percent of you know how to read, solve a math problem and critically think and thanks to the parents, teachers, staff and principal at Atlas Elementary School, 100 percent of the students in this room are prepared to accept the challenges, struggles and successes of the rest of their life.

Bill Rutherford is a psychotherapist, public speaker, elementary school counselor, adjunct college psychology instructor and executive chef, and owner of Rutherford Education Group. Please email him at [email protected].