Click here to listen to this week’s JAM: Expect the Unexpected
Expect the unexpected.
It’s become somewhat of a mantra in my head over these past few years, but today, the unexpected happened and I was definitely not ready.
Early this morning, I looked at the weather forecast on two apps – Weather Underground and the Apple Weather app – trying to decide what to do for our 8th grade Promotion scheduled to be outside at 9 am. I have been an organizer for graduations for more than 25 years in California, and never – not once – have we had to worry about rain. Scorching heat? Definitely. Rain? Not so much. So, looking at the two apps around 7 am one had a zero percent chance of rain, and the other had a 30 percent chance of rain. No problem, I figured. While it might be windy and a bit cold, we would be fine.
The event started smoothly. Students processed in, I completed my welcoming remarks, the Mayor of Los Gatos followed with some poignant comments. All was well. Then, as one of the students started her speech a rain drop fell. Over the next 10 minutes, the rain steadily increased. I sat there stunned. Really? Rain in June? In California? Apparently, 30 percent odds had not been in our favor.
The rain picked up and it was clear it wasn’t going to stop. Right as one of the students was reaching the end of her remarks, I stood up and approached the microphone. While I don’t recall exactly what I said, I said something to the effect of “we are going to move the event into the gym,” a space we had never used for the ceremony. People quickly stood up and started moving. One parent mentioned – maybe people should bring their chairs? I hurried back to the mic and asked students and families to bring chairs.
Over the next twenty minutes, the entire ceremony transitioned into the gym. Everyone – and I mean everyone, from our youngest children to our oldest grandparents – quickly, efficiently, and without much direction set up the space in a way that worked beautifully. The facilities team jumped into action, bringing out the bleachers; our tech team, with the support of a few parents, set up sound. Two students carried the table with the promotion certificates from the stage into the gym. The music teachers and their students moved the entire set of instruments. Children found their places and settled in to restart the ceremony.
During this entire time, no one complained, no one became angry, no one expressed frustration. Everyone just stepped up and embraced the moment. It had quickly become the most memorable 8th grade Promotion Ceremony in which I have ever participated
At the end of the ceremony, students processed back outside where we all joined them. The rain had stopped. In fact, it didn’t rain for the rest of the day. The only rain we have had in June was the twenty minutes during the 8th grade Promotion ceremony. Unlucky? Maybe. Watching the absolute joy on the 8th graders’ faces as they paraded across the makeshift stage, I was reminded that sometimes the unexpected ends up in unexpectedly good ways. That twenty minutes affirmed for me – yet again – what a privilege it is to be part of this community.