NevadaAppeal.com

6/13/2015

For the first time in what seems like my entire life, I didn’t write about a single graduation this year. While I can’t say I missed it (imagine listening to “Pomp and Circumstance” for nearly two weeks straight for nearly 15 years), it did make me a little reflective.

The one thing I do enjoy about graduation ceremonies is the universal hopefulness. Parents, teachers, administrators, students — everyone is unified in this idea the future is bright and the graduates are poised for success.

But it always makes me wonder where these students actually end up. Does the everyday monotony of life take its toll, dimming that glow of hope? Or do they charge forward, overcoming the obstacles, fighting to keep the fire burning?

So I was happy to get a few updates this week on some graduates from Carson City schools.

Faithann Hodorowicz graduated from Carson High School in 2014, after being diagnosed in 2009 with a form of cancer known as Primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

In an effort to help find a cure, she’s joining a national campaign this weekend to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a foundation who raises money for pediatric cancer research.

She will be operating her lemonade stand in front of her home, 2800 Mountain St., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today and Sunday.

If you can’t make it to the stand, you can donate $10 by texting LEMONADE, along with event ID number E1140051, to 85944.

For more information, go to alexslemonade.org.