On July 1, the 8th grade class at the Back of the Yards Campus celebrated their graduation with friends, family, teachers and supporters.

Jenn Truhler, math and reading teacher, was asked by the 8th grade class to speak at their graduation.  Below is an excerpt from her touching speech:

"You are all extremely capable, extremely gifted and extremely special young people who deserve all the happiness that is coming to you and more.  There has never been a doubt in my mind as to the success you all will have.  We've done what we can to prepare you here at San Miguel to go off to bigger and better things and most of you are ready to do that, some of you are maybe feeling like it would be safer for you to stay here, but I know I'm not the first to tell you that there are great things waiting for you.  And as much as we'd all like to stay at San Miguel forever, the time comes for us to branch out and explore new options and have new adventures.  San Miguel will always be here for you to come back to, in fact we hope you do come back to tell stories of the phenomenal things you're doing, but in order to do those things you need to go.

You need to go make new friends and build new relationships.  You have to go try new things, play new sports and join new clubs.  Maybe you'll even find a new favorite teacher or two.  And believe it or not you have to go out and make mistakes.  I can promise that over the next four years you will make memories that will last a lifetime, but I cannot promise that they will all be happy memories.  Part of growing up, part of becoming an adult is messing up.  There will be heartbreak, there will be sadness and there will be loss.  Your integrity will be measured by how you overcome these obstacles.

Your greatness is not only a matter of your successes but your failures as well and you are all great, so do not ever forget that or ever let anyone tell you any differently.  You will always have your own obstacles to overcome and your own triumphs to celebrate but you will all also always have each other.  Use each other for support but not as a crutch.  The world has so much to offer if you are brave enough to go after it.  Seize every opportunity you have to try new things and branch out.  You may not always get a second chance so take it while you can.  Do not be afraid to make mistakes.  The fear of failing can keep you from trying and I never want you to have to say "what if?"

Make your high school years fun and adventurous, but not too fun or too adventurous, because remember you are there to learn as well.  There is more than enough time for you to have fun AND to work hard.  Enjoy all that high school has to offer and if at the end of the day you are not satisfied then make changes for tomorrow.  Each day is a new chance for you to turn it all around.  Don't make excuses if things don't go the way you want, fix it.

Because here's the thing, everyone here knows how great you are; but now you have to go out and show everyone else.  Things will not be handed to you; you will have to work for what you want, but each of you is extremely capable.  Over the last two years I've seen what you're capable of.  I've seen you put differences aside to work together and accomplish goals.  (Even if the jump rope activity at Camp Gray did take you an hour and 45 minutes to complete setting the record for the longest time!)  I've seen you make difficult decisions regarding friendships and significant others.  I've seen you bond over random interests, mediate conflicts and support classmates through tough times.  I've seen you cure heartache with a well timed joke or a much deserved hug.  I've seen you rise to the occasion and take responsibility in tough situations and I've even seen you voluntarily punished out of loyalty to friends.

So this is what I want you to do: Defy expectations, overcome stereotypes and prove to the world that you're not just "some kid" from "some neighborhood" on the south side of Chicago.  Make them see that you are intelligent.  You are kind.  You are brave and that you will not be overlooked.  From here on out my friends it is up to you.  The choice is yours.  I hope you chose to work to your potential, try new things, learn from your mistakes and make the best of each moment.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important.  So chose what is important and be courageous.  I believe in you, I love you and I will miss each and every one of you.  Good luck Class of 2010 and may God bless all that you do."

See all photos from graduation on our Flickr page here!