We place our principals in literally a no-win situation. The days preceding graduation my stomach was in a knot watching the weather reports.

They see a mayor getting killed here, policeman being blown up at a graduation ceremony there. If we can get the security situation right, we will unlock that population to build a new Iraq.

The coach talked a lot about the graduation rate, which is about 97 percent. And it's quiet down there, so I can concentrate.

The last scene? I've got to tell you, everyone was bawling. People were just crying. It was like a graduation. It was very surreal. We all spoke about it earlier that day, but people were just breaking down. I mean, seven years, every day. You see people grow up, you grow up yourself, you see people going through ups and downs. It was hard for us.

Spring is a time of celebration for families, particularly with proms and graduation around the corner. Unfortunately, it is also a season of dread for parents, because too often these celebrations turn into a time of personal tragedy as a result of underage drinking.

We're going to work hard to make the graduation ceremonies just as exciting as they would be if they were held here.