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School for the Deaf’s lone grad set to soar | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal | Graduation: High School
In one of the more memorable moments of his academic life, Jesus Bickmore led the graduating class of 2007 into the auditorium at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf yesterday — the top student in his class.
And as it turns out, the representative bottom, too.
Because of his unique class placement there were no announcements about holding your applause until all the graduates received their diplomas.
The young man was the class.
Each year the school graduates about 8 to 12 students, Bickmore said through a sign-language interpreter prior to the ceremony. But this year several students either dropped out of school or were asked to leave, he said.
As a result, he became the graduating procession, a fate he wasn’t complaining about yesterday as he meandered about the school in his red cap and gown receiving hugs and handshakes from teachers and fellow students.
“It’s made me feel special,” he said. “Plus I get all the attention.”
Bickmore, 19, of Pawtucket, was born in Florida and spent the first few years of his life essentially neglected by his natural family, he said. After his mother moved to Rhode Island, he was placed in foster care. Deaf since birth, he began attending the School for the Deaf at a young age, and developed some close ties to several teachers and friends.
When he was 15, he was adopted by a “special” woman whom he now calls his mother.
“My life has been great since then,” he said. “I have a great family. I really do love my mom very much. She supported me through everything.”
At his graduation yesterday, Bickmore spoke before family and friends and about 80 students of the school. He talked of how he persevered through less than ideal circumstances and expected to succeed in the future as well.
On the top of his cap, he carried pictures of several of his friends and some of his favorite teacher. In August he plans to attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, N.Y.
He has aspirations of becoming a lawyer, or a teacher for the deaf. Perhaps even a teacher back at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, where so many helped him succeed.
Yesterday he signed a song for those in attendance: “I Believe I Can Fly.”
He chose the song, he said, “because I believe I have made it. Because I will be leaving the school and flying free.”
In one of the more memorable moments of his academic life, Jesus Bickmore led the graduating class of 2007 into the auditorium at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf yesterday — the top student in his class.
And as it turns out, the representative bottom, too.
Because of his unique class placement there were no announcements about holding your applause until all the graduates received their diplomas.
The young man was the class.
Each year the school graduates about 8 to 12 students, Bickmore said through a sign-language interpreter prior to the ceremony. But this year several students either dropped out of school or were asked to leave, he said.
As a result, he became the graduating procession, a fate he wasn’t complaining about yesterday as he meandered about the school in his red cap and gown receiving hugs and handshakes from teachers and fellow students.
“It’s made me feel special,” he said. “Plus I get all the attention.”
Bickmore, 19, of Pawtucket, was born in Florida and spent the first few years of his life essentially neglected by his natural family, he said. After his mother moved to Rhode Island, he was placed in foster care. Deaf since birth, he began attending the School for the Deaf at a young age, and developed some close ties to several teachers and friends.
When he was 15, he was adopted by a “special” woman whom he now calls his mother.
“My life has been great since then,” he said. “I have a great family. I really do love my mom very much. She supported me through everything.”
At his graduation yesterday, Bickmore spoke before family and friends and about 80 students of the school. He talked of how he persevered through less than ideal circumstances and expected to succeed in the future as well.
On the top of his cap, he carried pictures of several of his friends and some of his favorite teacher. In August he plans to attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, N.Y.
He has aspirations of becoming a lawyer, or a teacher for the deaf. Perhaps even a teacher back at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf, where so many helped him succeed.
Yesterday he signed a song for those in attendance: “I Believe I Can Fly.”
He chose the song, he said, “because I believe I have made it. Because I will be leaving the school and flying free.”