After my dad died, I came across his pocket high school diploma. It was such a treasure to me. He valued education and preached about staying in school any chance he got. I don’t think he even remembered he still had it. In the last few months of his life, we started talking about his school experience and we were in the process of ordering his diploma. I wanted to start a wall of our family diplomas. A visual legacy for my kids. He died before he signed the order form. I thought that was the end of it. And then, I came across his pocket diploma!

It was old and discolored, but the lamination helped preserve it. I swiped my finger across his name on the card, wishing I could touch him instead of his name on the card. I had so many questions about this pocket diploma. I wished I could walk to the next room and ask him. But I couldn’t.

I kept that pocket diploma close to me. It was such an emotional experience finding it. It has taken me a while to really process what that diploma could have meant to my dad. He fought so hard to get through high school and then immediately enlisted in the Army to fight in the Vietnam War. He enlisted 3 days after he graduated. My dad moved around throughout his life and in the end he owned very little material belongings. It was amazing to me that this little pocket diploma survived the roller coaster life my dad had and it was a testament to what he valued-EDUCATION.

This has been an exciting journey….I can’t wait to share the other treasures I’m finding.