My children's school looks like America

I noticed something when I looked at the children being honored by their induction into the National Junior Honor Society tonight: Their families are a veritable United Nations.There were students with hijabs - including the president of the NJHS. Names represented the breadth of Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, along with those that were traditionally African-American, Italian, Portuguese and East Asian. The students were every hue.Some are immigrants. Some are first-generation Americans. Some, have families who have been here a bit longer.And to them, this is normal. This is America. They don't know anything else and would think it was weird if everyone looked like them.These are the "smart kids" - in the gifted & talented program, those at the very top for grades, service and citizenship. These are the students who work hard and study. These are the students who are active in their community and give up free time to organize donations for a clothing drive. These are the students who strive.And they are America. They represent every corner of the globe, and represent the best that we have to offer.They make me damned proud.Photo by Filip Bunkens via Unsplash.