This weekend I attended a celebration for my 5-year-old who is finishing up her years at a Montessori program before heading to kindergarten next year. It made me reflect on where we were a year ago and how far we have come thanks to the work of so many teachers, school staff and parents around the world.

School started this year unlike any year we have ever seen in our lifetime – some schools not sure if they would be able to open until the last minute, some people fully remote, some mixed and then the ones that did get to attend had the addition of masks, distance, regular testing, and daily health checks. We are fortunate in the United States that we had the resources readily available to make most of these options work. Many places around the globe, including our schools in Zambia, do not have access to robust remote learning options, regular testing or daily app-based health screenings. But at Impact Network, we were able to bring students and staff back safely with masks, distance, hand-washing stations and additional cleanings. The amount of work it took on everyone’s part to make school happen across the globe is truly remarkable.

Throughout the school year everyone was constantly having to adapt and be flexible. Teachers went back and forth between virtual and in-person, schools suddenly shut down for 2 weeks after someone tested positive for COVID and parents worked to balance their jobs, school and parenting. In Zambia, schools had a delayed start this year, but students have been in school learning with their peers.

Now at the end of the school year here in the US, we are seeing people attend graduation ceremonies again, getting together safely to celebrate these milestones. In some schools, students said the graduation ceremony was the first normal thing that happened all year. I’ve enjoyed seeing viral stories again of inspirational speeches, students adapting and succeeding against all odds and even an acapella version of “I Will Always Love You” by Marcus Gausea, a high school principal in North Carolina. His message through the words of Whitney Houston took on a different meaning in a graduation ceremony than the original purpose. He sang to his students:

I hope life treats you kind

And I hope you have all you've dreamed of

And I wish you joy and happiness

But above all this I wish you love

Looking back at the last school year, it makes me appreciate the amazing teachers around the world and how far we have come since last year. We also appreciate you, our supporters, who help keep our schools running in Zambia so that our scholars can fulfill their dreams.

-Katie

"I will always love you..."