Evan graduated from Magellan. It wasn’t unexpected. But it is still noteworthy. Unlike Vivian who has spent some time at Magellan, Rawson Saunders, and Stephens, Evan has been a Navigator all his life. Magellan has been family.
Like any good global citizen, he should be able to curse fluently in three major languages. He may have also picked up an interest in science, a curiosity for the humanities, a love of art, and some passing ability in soccer and track. His teachers don’t seem to hate him (or they are super polite), he has made a few friends, and somehow some of the IB learner profile characteristics have stuck. All this while being a digital native (born four years after the iPhone), at peak social media, and having spent a quarter of his life in pandemic related craziness.
Shabash beta. Or as his Grandma Bina would simply say, “Bhaalo”.
The last few months have been one big party: a Model UN trip to Dallas (he represented Morocco and got some sort of resolution passed regarding the use of nuclear energy and was recognized by his peers), followed by a class trip to Spain (the travel there took 42 hours because of a small weather related hiccup on the first leg – they had a great time and no one really complained, which says a lot about these kids and their teachers), and then getting ready for graduation.
At graduation, Evan delivered the class speech in Mandarin which is funny because he has been plotting for months to be demoted from the advanced Mandarin class. Graduation was emotional for many of the kids. They have literally been together as long as they can remember. And for parents and teachers too, who have seen each other five days a week for the better part of a decade.
And then the pool parties began.
A special shout out to Ms. Jennifer, a reader of this blog and someone we have known for so many years. Thank you for everything, but mostly thank you for putting up with Evan for all these years.
Happy Middle School Graduation, Evan!
Notes from Dad 