On the evening of May 28, I attended the senior awards program for the Albert Lea High School class of 2014.

As the current Teacher of the Year, I had been given the charge of awarding two scholarships on behalf of the Albert Lea Education Association. While I waited for the event to start, I nervously searched the four-page program for the scholarships in my hand. I sighed with a bit of disappointment, as I found I was listed fifth from the end.

Really? I’m pretty sure I was told it would be one of the first. Yet, there was my name near the bottom of the fourth page. There, I sat thinking, “Here goes a night I could be doing X, Y and Z.” There I sat wondering “How long will this take?”

There I sat …

• Impressed as 50 seniors were recognized for academic honors.

• Imagining the personal challenges and hard work of these students.

• Awed by the countless scholarships awarded — some worth hundreds of dollars and some worth thousands.

• Watching numerous community groups give generously to trusted young adults.

• With tears as a handful of stories were shared about loved ones and past alumni.

• Wishing I knew more about all the individuals the scholarships were named after

• Hoping these scholarships are honored and utilized to the fullest by the recipients.

• Wondering about the paths these graduates will take and the impact they will make.

• Realizing this program is moving along faster than I thought, and I’m enjoying it!

• Feeling overwhelmed with the gift of being there. (Clearly fifth from the last was a hidden blessing.)

• Amazed at the goodness, the promise, the trust, and the hope that stemmed from the givers and the receivers

And all too quickly it was done.

Albert Lea has many things to celebrate. There are so many talented young adults in our community. There are so many giving people and organizations. On this night, I was reminded that when I put aside my personal list of “to-dos,” silence the phone and be in the moment, it becomes easy to see the positives in this community and in each other.

Paula Buendorf
Special education teacher
Southwest Middle School
Walters