Graduation & Matric Dances

The life cycle of a child into adult hood has been achieved. The full metamorphism has been accomplished. The graduated student is now ready to be released into the world. The symbolic use of butterflies at a graduation reflects that stages of development of the graduated student – from grade one to having a desired purpose on their graduation day – Ready now to stretch their wings and be released as a butterfly goes out to find its true path in life.

Poems

The sky was dark, the wind was cold, And leaves began to fly.
A caterpillar, striped with black, said, “I must say good-bye.”

“I’ll stick my bottom to a stem. My skin is getting old.

I’ll change it for a bumpy skin, Of brown, alas, no tips of gold.”

The north wind sang a lullaby, As snug and safe she lay.
Then May came, and by and by, Her dry skin dropped away.

So now a pretty insect sat, And spread her wings to fly.
She sailed the sky on midnight wings – A black swallowtail butterfly!
Like a butterfly emerges and unfolds its graceful wings, A child grows and develops
With the love teachers and loved ones bring. We’re thankful for the times
You have encouraged us to try, For God gave us our wings,
But all of you taught us how to fly.

I believe…, I believe I can cut my own pathway, I believe I can step off the edge and not fall
I believe I can close my eyes and follow my heart and soul, I believe I can walk in the rain and not get wet
I believe in today and have hope for tomorrow, I believe in dreams, I believe in me…., I believe I can fly! 

Quotes

Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.

~Author Unknown

And what’s a butterfly? At best, He’s but a caterpillar, at rest.

~John Grey

Flowers and butterflies drift in color, illuminating spring.

~Author Unknown

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.

~Carl Sagan

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

~Author Unknown

Go on, hitch a ride on the back of a butterfly. There’s no better way to fly.

~Pat Monahan, Scott Michael Underwood, and James W. Stafford, “Get To Me”

I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man.

~Chuang Tzu