A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of witnessing and photographing a tradition at Westminster School called "The Lawn Ceremony".
Essentially, the 12th graders invite the 11th graders to join them in a special area of campus exclusive to the graduating class.
It's an honor to be personally led onto the lawn.
It's part of the school's culture.
And, often, it's an emotional moment for all.
In the first five years of photographing this annual event, I didn't understand the reason for tears.
They looked like happy tears, but I wasn't sure.
This year, the head of the school, Elaine White, spoke succinctly at one of the closing ceremonies about the importance of community.
And then it all made sense.
From the first day of school to the last, schools such as Westminster have a broader mission than just education.
They want to give their students a taste of what's possible in the "real world" – that connection, cooperation, collaboration, and community are all achievable.
The happy tears, I think, are evidence that despite the trials and tribulations of the past three years, they too can experience that same sense of togetherness as their older peers.
It's perhaps also a reminder that they have just one more year to go before graduating from high school.
If you are a part of a team, what traditions bring you together with your colleagues, and what is your mission?
Drop a comment below.
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Titanium Materials Exporter Manager at Baoji Mingkun Nonferrous Metal Co.,Ltd
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