Graduations are a big deal these days. In fact, schools even make a big production out of Kindergarten graduations, with all the videotaping, grandparents visiting, and hoopla that used to be reserved for 12th grade. Some areas even make a huge ceremony out of finishing middle school and going on to high school. Then, of course, there’s the high school graduation which has always been a cause to rejoice. And for a lot of people there are college or university graduations as well.
In each case, the person is graduating from, or finishing a course of study that they will not return to again. It is done. It’s often referred to as a Commencement as well because after the graduation the person will commence, or begin doing something new. He will start a new segment of life that is somewhat different, or perhaps even very different than the previous one.
Drug Courts have graduations too. A story from Sturgis announced that the keynote speaker at the Drug Court Graduation on October 25, 2011 was to be South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Lori Wilbur. This Drug Court was created in 2007, patterned after some very successful Drug Courts in other states. Across the nation, Drug Courts provide a program for offenders with drug problems that is an alternative to going to prison. They must attend meetings, take random drug tests, and keep to a list of other requirements. Many people see this as their “last chance” or their “big opportunity” to get out of the drug life and see a difference. In fact, 75 percent of drug court graduates in the United States are successful, never being arrested for possession or distribution again.
It may be the best graduation ever for these 21 people from Butte, Lawrence, Meade and Pennington counties and the others around the state and the nation. These folks may have had high school graduations and eighth grade graduations and even Kindergarten graduations. Some have even had college graduations. But this time, hopefully, it will truly mark a monumental difference between the life before and the life that will come after.
