From the Mic to the Mound: Surviving My First Graduation Ceremony

I did it.
I stood on the stage, read a ridiculous amount of names, 92 to be exact, and made it through my very first graduation ceremony as an assistant principal.

And then—a few hours later—I sprinted to the car, changed into shorts and sneakers, and coached two of my daughter’s softball games that evening. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s this: life doesn’t slow down, even when you’re living a milestone moment.

Graduation is always a big deal. But for me, this year felt extra significant—not just because I was part of it, but because I was in it in a very real way. This was my first time reading names on stage. In front of thousands of people. With a microphone. And cameras. And absolutely no room for error.

What most people didn’t know is that I have severe stage fright. The kind that makes your heart race, your palms sweat, the idea you will likely pass out, and your mind forget how to pronounce names you’ve practiced a hundred times. I spent countless hours rehearsing.I walked around the softball fields whispering pronunciations like a nervous actor before opening night to whoever would listen to me.

Because I didn’t want to mess up. Not just for myself, but for the students. Every name mattered. Every moment meant something.

And when the big day came? I was terrified. But I did it.I had conquered something that once felt impossible. And then? I traded my clipboard for a lineup card.

Because a few hours after the ceremony wrapped up, I was off to coach two back-to-back softball games for my daughter, Bexlee, who is 9 and all heart. Her brother Kixsen, 7, was in the stands with a snack and a smile, and my husband Cameron—who happens to be an assistant principal at the middle school that feeds into my high school—was cheering us on from the sidelines. It's our version of "normal," and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

This day was the perfect picture of what it means to live a both/and life:
🎓 Both a leader and a learner.
😅 Both terrified and proud.
🏃‍♀️ Both a principal and a coach.
❤️ Both exhausted and incredibly fulfilled.

Graduation reminded me that we’re all capable of more than we think. That sometimes, we just have to say yes, rehearse like crazy, and trust ourselves to rise to the occasion.