Class of 2030 Selects Bethany Kavanaugh as Speaker

The MICDS Class of 2030 selected Middle School Librarian Bethany Kavanaugh to address them at their Eighth Grade Celebration the evening of Thursday, Jay 28. Ms. Kavanaugh shared her feelings about these special students, and exhorts them to make the world a better place. Here are her full remarks.

It feels like I’ve been haunting the shelves of the Messing Library basically forever, but realistically, this is only my third year. Wild, I know. Before I came to MICDS, I worked at another middle school a few miles down the road. My very first year, I had the honor of presenting a special literary merit award at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony. I gave it to a kid who had a deep love of reading, named Charles Konde. After the ceremony, I remember calling my aunt, who had recently retired after 20 years of teaching middle school history in the Lindbergh school district, and I said, “How am I supposed to deal with this? I get to love these kids almost every day for three years of my life, and then they’re just gone? And I’m supposed to be okay with that? Is it going to be this hard every year?” She chuckled at me and said, “Yes. But it’s worth it.”

Librarians tend to be a very unique role in a school system. We’re kind of like the cool aunts. We don’t generally assign homework; we encourage way too many shenanigans; and we get to see a side of students that sometimes sneaks by other teachers and administrators. We’re teachers, but also support students in other ways. Sometimes it’s helping students find books, remember how to cite a source, or figure out why their computer won’t print. Sometimes it’s offering a space where students can decompress, read a book, or just take a moment to breathe in an otherwise busy day. Sometimes it’s just being a presence, knowing there’s always someone there to give them a smile, offer advice, or tell them, “No, I still don’t have any snacks.”

But even in August, I know the day will be coming when those same smiling, sometimes glaring faces aren’t going to come in my door. I won’t have anyone to yell “LIBRARY” at me at least four times a day. I won’t have anyone to remind me that I know them as the Rizzler or call me Dr. Sonti… actually, who am I kidding? That one will probably be for the rest of my career. But I take it as a compliment, anyway. I watch how you, as 8th graders, grow throughout the year, and in the words of the late, great Fred Rogers: 

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”

Because I have met all of you, in some way or another. Whether you’ve been metaphorically ruining my life during Flex, or telling me you swear you’ve never checked out that book before even though it’s sitting in your locker, or even just yelling HELLO at you in the hallway…I’ve met you. I see you. And part of you will always stay with me. And that’s something to think about. Because every interaction leaves a mark. Every word, every picture, every friendly hello in the halls. People may not always remember what you said to them, but they will remember how you made them feel. Kindness costs you nothing.

Every year, students tell me that they’ll come back and see me after they leave, and every year I tell them, “No, you won’t, but that’s okay.” Because it is okay. It’s all going to be okay. It’s time for your next adventure. And even if you’re not sure what you’re going to do tomorrow, or next week, next year, or with the rest of your life…how exciting. How exciting it is to wake up every day and have these opportunities. To paraphrase the current, great Matt Dinniman:

“If it used to be okay, but it’s not okay anymore, then maybe you should do something about it. Don’t compare your circumstances with how they were yesterday. Look at how they were years ago. We’re supposed to be making the world…a better place.”

Make the world a better place by being a good person.
Even though it’s hard, go do great things. It’s worth it.
And, if no one has told you today, know that I love you.

Thank you.