06/16/2026
Madison-Oneida BOCES will always hold such a fond place in my heart. Both my boys found their place there. And for any mom, having your kids feel like they have a place to fit in makes their hearts happy.
Garet was selected to give the student speech this year at graduation. He told me he wrote about his brother, so I had been expected to be a puddle. However, after listening to his speech, I was so impressed. Garet spoke about why he wanted to go: his brother went and always came home with such great stories about how much fun he was having, how much he learned that day, etc. And he said that was the biggest influence on him (his brother is his biggest influence in life, but he likes to recognize him for all the things he inspires G to do.) Garet also spoke about how he found his place, made great friends, learned SO much, and how BOCES shaped him in the person he is becoming. He recognized that he didn't feel his story was unique- he feels like most students that go to BOCES feels this way. He mentioned his two teachers that influenced him the most during his Junior year, the two that made him feel that great things were possible; Mr. Brown and Mrs. Harding. Mr Brown was the talk of our house most days (always in a good way Mr Brown! He enjoyed him not only as a teacher, but as a human being). He of course also acknowledged the two women who really saw him, that inspired him and the two women that helped him reach his full potential; Ms. Hanson and Mrs. Kent. Ms. Hanson thanked me...THANKED ME...more than once for sharing this wonderful young man with them. Trust me Ms. Hanson, we will forever we thankful for you.
The pictures are less than stellar. LOL. I took the first shot when he got up there but then just listened with pride. He is going to be a great teacher and role model for his students someday. I can't wait until he sees potential in his students like his teachers did for him.
Also, just a little shout out to the ones that show up for him to cheer him on