Tyler's Grad

Well it is August and I should have written about graduation a while ago, but I decided to wait until it was all over.  As is always the case with remembering the boys it has been bittersweet.

Because of COVID everything was done differently this year.  On June 24 the graduates gathered in two groups to hear the various speeches and although the other parents could only watch it online they invited us as special guests to hear the speeches.  The valedictorian’s and teacher’s speech both included beautiful remembrances of Tyler.  This is what they said:

Valedictorian, Adia Koodoo:

At the beginning of high school, our grade was labelled as the “overachievers”. The competition in our grade has always been fierce because we’ve been pushing each other to try our best from the very start. We support each other in failures, and  celebrate all the successes. But the thing I truly admire most about the people in front of me is their resilience. Needless to say, the passing of Tyler Rempel changed all of our lives. Suffering such a tragedy truly tested our community and grade. We could have broken down, given up and wallowed on, but instead we chose to let this tragedy make us stronger. Our grade came together during those days of grief, and we haven’t separated since. What our grade communally learned from the experience was that we truly do need each other.  MBCI has built us a sturdy foundation as a support system, but it is up to us to keep building upon it.

Teacher’s Speech, Mr. Wes Koslowsky:

What can I say? Grade 10 was cruisin’, and I was loving it.

But just like that, darkness hit. We lost Tyler. It is impossible to trace the impact that his passing has had on me and my colleagues, let alone you, his friends.  All I know is that I saw you then, and I see you now. My colleagues and I, and countless friends and parents, have learned to love you more deeply than you’ll ever know as we witnessed the pain and devastation that many of you did and still experience today.

As is the case in the wake of a special life lost, many of us grew closer together. In the words of Louis de Bernieres, “We had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches, we discovered that we were one tree and not many.” Such a storm tests us all; I count myself lucky to have weathered it with you.

How deep, so touching!

The following day they had the convocation in thirteen groups, we were placed with the Rs. Aden’s favourite memory was “When Tyler surprised us all and came back to MBCI.” I loved it. Because the grads had to miss so much this year because of COVID (no banquet etc.) They made this beautiful class of 2020 book and handed it out to all the grads. In it they had the list of all the grads, the scholarships each had received the valedictorian and teacher’s speech, a prayer and two pages (see below) to remember Tyler. We were also presented with one of these books. I love it and it was really touching but it also hit me hard this year that again I was at a graduation where I could not find the face of my son in the group. I just wanted a real celebration for once without the pain, hopefully next year. It is so precious to see how loved Tyler was and also how the tragedy bonded his grade, to see the beauty come out of such tragedy.

Tyler wrote this poem in grade 10,
Words to poem are below

One the 2nd Anniversary of Tyler's graduation to heaven his classmates painted their fingernails and took photos to go with this poem. 

                                   

FINGERNAILS

I live my life with not much sagacity,

To understand, ask questions,

I don’t have the audacity,

But just one thing has always been vexing me,

A trifle, and something somewhat unsavoury,

Inquisitively, exuberantly, I try to understand,

Just what is the point of these fingernails on my Hand?

Unlike the entrails inside me, they have no clear use,

Are they just for prettying up? I’m irresolute,

For scratching or picking; a possible value to it,

But I urge to chew them or clip them;

They’re far from immaculate,

Just a remnant of claws,

From our ancestors long ago?

I have suppositions,

But the truth I don’t know.

                                                   -Tyler Rempel

                                                         

I wrote back in March that the Tyler Rempel Board Game Café was cancelled. It was supposed to be on Friday, March 13; and that morning the government announced that all social gatherings were to be cancelled because of COVID. Aden (Tyler’s friend) had designed and ordered a wristband in honour of Tyler to hand out at the café, a lot of Tyler’s classmates had ordered hoodies with a Tyler Rempel Board Game Café logo on it, all the snacks and drinks were purchased but then it got cancelled.

On June 12, the school had the grad breakfast and so the Parents of Prayer decided to do a Tyler Rempel Tribute Parade by our house. Tyler loved Root Beer so they handed out Root Beer and Chips. Jake and I didn’t just want to stand awkwardly and watch them go by so I made a small bag for us to hand out to the grads as well. I designed a bookmark on vistaprint, put a photo of Tyler at the top, then went through all the memories written about Tyler by his friends, picked out all the descriptive words used to describe Tyler and put those underneath.  I also designed some sticky notes with the logo that his grade had drawn up for the board game café on it. So I put both of these in a baggy together with the wristband Aden had designed and a small chocolate and handed it to every grad that came by. It was awesome and a great way to honour Tyler.

August 21, they were finally able to do the SAFE Grad which was a Fort Gibraltar.  We were invited to come for the last hour of it where they did a toast to Tyler. They made a drink especially for Tyler which they called Rempel Root Beer.  Sarah Veloso said a few words and introduced the toast.  Here’s what she said:

Our friend Tyler Rempel was someone who has had a profound impact on the MBCI graduating class of 2020. Everyone, no matter who you ask, has a fond memory of him. When people remember Tyler, they remember a remarkably intelligent individual, witty, comedic, and creative; someone who could change the mood of a room with the crack of a funny joke or a clever remark. More importantly, Tyler was someone who didn’t have a cruel bone in his body. He was able to empathize with others and see the positives in everyone. Tyler, our fellow classmate and friend, made a lasting impression on all of us. He taught us that life and happiness is best shared in the company of others. I hope that as we all grow apart in our separate lives, we all hold on to each other and our memory of Tyler. So  here is a toast to Tyler, to the graduating class of 2020 and to all of us sharing this moment together! Cheers!

Then they lit sparklers. It was so precious.

If you are new to this blog and wonder what happened to our boys you can find it in the post titled Our Story, on the web version it is featured on the right side of the screen.