Last Thursday was a remarkable day. My 18-year-old daughter, who is just about to graduate from her alternative high school, had to present her academic portfolio as a requirement of graduation. Her charge was to demonstrate mastery in several different learning realms to a roundtable of teachers, parents, and members of community. Not an easy task.

She prepared for weeks. She pulled together all of work she felt best represented her senior year of learning. She also had to write a narrative about each learning realm as well as reflect in general about her high school experience. It was an amazing process to witness. She worked her tail off reviewing, synthesizing and preparing to present past year of her growth-filled life.

The day finally came. In a large, naturally lit classroom around a broad table, eight people carefully reviewed numerous folders of my daughter’s portfolio. The air was charged with feeling of a young woman’s rite of passage. At one point, my daughter was asked to leave room while we discussed her personal and academic achievements of her career. According to procedure, roundtable would determine if she passed and would graduate.

I must say, as proud mother, she came through with flying colors. The work she presented more than met requirements. The team was extremely impressed and awed by well roundedness and depth of my daughter and her work. She was lavished with praise and validation. I watched her soak in all attention like a sponge, almost to point of discomfort.