By Sue Staton

This column is written by a very proud memaw. My granddaughter, Stephenie Alexandria Barnes, graduated from the University of Kentucky this month.

I am like all the other proud parents and grandparents whose child or grandchild has persevered through college and never gave up.

She is our first grandchild thus far to do so.

She has committed to teaching for her career and has been doing student teaching this past semester. She has seemed to loved it.

She told us how she was moved to tears after switching from her first group of students to an older group in the middle of the semester, which was part of her final exam. She said how she knew they loved her so much and she loved them as well.

On that first day in the new classroom they were all trying to touch her, she said. Afterward, she said she got in her car and cried.

She was shocked to learn how quickly she had become so attached to them.

I couldn’t help but swell with pride as I realized she was going to be a great teacher. If a teacher is only there for the job and does not care for her students, I do not feel they are called to teaching.

She is excited to get into her own classroom. Hopefully she will leave her mark on her students and the world. I pray for her safety in the classroom and that of her students. I also pray she will realize the great responsibility she will have every day she steps into that classroom.

I can’t help but keep thinking of how proud her daddy would be if he had lived to see her graduation come to fruition and be here to celebrate with her. He knew she was going to attend the University of Kentucky before he died. He was always so proud of her. Luckily, she has had the support of her mom and stepdad and her stepmom to keep pushing her on.

Tonight we will be celebrating Stephenie with a special dinner in Louisville. It will come after we watch her sister, Olivia perform in a Christmas program.

As I have mentioned often, Olivia sings and dances all over Louisville. I should be beaming for sure tonight as I watch Olivia and be with Stephenie.

Olivia’s performances always put a smile on my face For all this crazy year has brought, I am so looking forward to tonight.

However, before I finish, let me say to all the graduates wherever you are or whomever you are God bless you and I pray all your hard work gets rewarded. I am so proud of all of you. You have proved a lot already. Hope your Christmas is extra special too.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.