My Class Ring Came Home

In 1986, I graduated from high school and entered the US Navy to begin my military service. In the service we were allowed very little jewelry while in uniform. The only ring a man could wear was a wedding ring. For some of my fellow recruits, there was great angst as they removed their class rings to store them in their lockers. This was not an issue for me as I no longer had my class ring despite having only graduated a month before. The story is a bit cliché. I was dating a young lady and gave her my ring to wear on her necklace. After graduation, I never saw the ring (or the young lady) again. I am confident that is due to some poor decision on my part.

26 years later, I serve as a High School Principal and have another class ring. When a new high school opens, the Founding Principal is given the school’s first class ring. It is a symbol of all of the hopes and dreams for the new school and the students who will fill it over the decades to come. For me, the ring is incredibly special. When I look at it I am reminded of the incredible teachers and staff in our building. I am reminded of the families who have sacrificed their time, talents, and financial resources in birthing our new learning community.

Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs Class of 1986 (left) Cuthbertson High School Cavaliers Opened 2009 (right)

I would not have thought that I would ever see the two rings together because I had long ago given up all hope of ever seeing my own high school class ring again. Then I received an email from my alma mater. The Principal’s Secretary had reached out to me because my ring had been found. A gentleman in the community had called the school to seek out the ring’s owner. After some research on the part of the secretary of our Alumni Association, I was located.

A wonderful gentleman had found my ring years ago and had placed it in a box in his room intent on tracing down its owner. Years past and the ring was unfortunately forgotten. Then as the Winter Holidays approached this year, he happened upon the box and found again the ring. He immediately began to make phone calls and three weeks later, I put it on again for the first time in over two decades. The bottom is cracked and there are scratches on it. It still looks beautiful to me. I can clearly remember the pride my parents showed when they sacrificed to be able to purchase the ring for me.

As I have met with our students on ring day each year, I had shared the story of losing my ring and had encouraged them to learn from my mistakes. Next year, I’ll tell the story again and I will be able to show our students my class ring for the very first time. I am very grateful to the gentleman for finding my ring and to each of those who helped him in his search.

Today the two rings are side-by-side on my dresser. I love thinking about how the experiences and memories represented by one ring formed my approach to the work of opening the new high school that is represented by the other.