And then, for the first time since 2019, I was able to come into the schools once again to take student photos and have the students complete forms. And I appreciate the dedicated staff who helped make this happen. It took 3-4 trips to some of the larger high schools in Dane County and counselors from some of the smaller schools emailed me the students who were participating. While we had a smaller number of schools participate this year — I just didn’t have the time to follow-up with some of the outlying schools plus Edgewood — we were back to pre-COVID participation levels with 358 students — perhaps a few more — featured in this issue.

There is a saying that whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. And I can’t help but feel that way about the students in The Hues Row of Excellence. They have spent most of their high school careers under the menace — in different degrees — of COVID-19. But they didn’t let that deter them from attaining academic excellence.

Seeing how well members of The Hues Row of Excellence have done in spite of the pandemic, I can’t help, but feel proud of them. Being a teenager is tough in this world as they seem to take on all of the tensions and issues that exist in the world — improved communications is a double-edged sword. And then being cut off from their high school peers and not having extra-curricular activities and high school activities for 1-2 years, I just can’t imagine how I would have reacted. They are stronger!

It felt so good to get around and actually see people. It always helps my writing to be able to see and interact with people, especially young people. As they were sitting around the tab e filling out their forms, I just took in their energy and focus. You learn so much more through the non-verbal communication. It’s something that the virtual world just can’t duplicate.

And it was great to get to UW-Madison and witness the UW-Madison Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO) graduation celebrations. At the CAE event, I knew several of the staff who were there and so, on some levels, it was like the COVID pause had never occurred. But at the CeO event held at the Memorial Union’s Great Hall, it was different. It seemed as if the whole staff — or at least the administration — had retired or moved on. And so I felt kind of like a stranger in the midst of the celebration. It’s like I have to start all over again forming relationships with the staff. Time did not stand still during the pandemic.

And in seeing the excellence of the students in The Hues Row of Excellence, I can’t help but be amazed and stand awe of the jobs that the teachers have done during the pandemic. While many people were able to work from home or receive extended unemployment benefits, teachers had to — in many ways — continue to teach and meet the needs of the students seamlessly. They had to — for the sake of the students — keep being present and keep bringing the students along academically. Teachers were essential workers for our families and although things weren’t perfect — teachers rose to the occasion according to their ability to adapt — they were there and kept the academic process going. So kudos to you too teachers.

Hopefully we will continue to become “normal.” Even as a write this, I keep monitoring how I feel because I was directly exposed to COVID-19 during a non-profit audit by one of the auditors late last week. Things are not normal yet.

So students, keep “woke” and keep achieving. We need you!