A week or so ago, I sat in the gym of G.R. Whitfield for the Band and Orchestra Spring Concert. Whitfield has an extensive music program that engages students from fourth grade through eighth grade. My granddaughter Allison is one of the violinists in this year’s Fifth Grade Orchestra.

Like Alli, I played violin in a school orchestra from seventh through tenth grade. I sang in the school chorus from fourth grade through sixth grade. As I listened to these young people play, I recalled the days when I sat where they were sitting.

The orchestral students performed first. They did a variety of folk tunes, such as “Go Tell Aunt Rhody,” and some traditional greats like “Long, Long Ago.” I could almost see the bull in action when the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade orchestra performed “El Toro.” After the orchestral performances, the bands took the stage – the Sixth Grade Band and the Seventh and Eighth Grade Band.

I attended Senior Awards Day at North Lenoir High School two days after the concert. I was on hand to present scholarship notices to three graduating seniors who had applied for and received the Wheat Swamp Ruritan Club scholarships. Usually, our Ruritan Club awards only one scholarship, but we were so impressed with this year’s applicants we decided to recognize three students.

I watched as the seniors marched in caps and gowns. The awards day program included an insert with the names of students and the total amount of scholarships they were offered. Some scholarships were small, but some awards made me do a double take. One student was offered more than $1 million in scholarships, and another must choose among the schools that offered her more than $900,000. I did not try to total the scholarship offers because my calculator would have jumped into scientific notation to count all that money.

Scholarships of any amount are significant. As I usually tell the seniors, college will provide them with a dream education – an education that costs more than they ever dreamed it would.

I also like to point out that graduation ceremonies are called “Commencement.” These students have not finished their education. They have completed a phase that hopefully prepares them for what is to come, whether the next phase is formal education – or life education in the school of hard knocks.

Too many people, in their rush to judgment about today’s young people, seem much more attuned to pointing out the negatives rather than looking for the positives. I am not sure how many seniors are graduating from North Lenoir this year, but if my count is correct, 109 of them were offered some type of scholarship to help them further their educations.

Two things impress me whenever I am in the company of today’s young people. First, I am astounded at how truly young they are. I guess as I grow older, everyone seems younger. I even thought a few of the teachers were high school students – they looked that young to me.

The other thing that grabs my attention is how many young people today still seem driven to make something of themselves. We cannot blame an 18-year-old for not having the perspective of a 38-year-old. Today’s 38-year-olds need to remember they do not have the perspective of someone who is 68 or 78.

We need to celebrate the achievements of our young people – rejoice in how far they have come – and pray for them as they make their way on life’s journey. In a few weeks, Allison will be heading to sixth grade – then to high school – then to college – and then to life. Older generations need to be cheerleaders for actual achievements, whether that achievement is playing a violin or clarinet – or receiving a scholarship offer to college or a technical school.

Thanks to all the young people who reminded me of this truth during the past week or two.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.