万花筒 Kaleidoscope 2007-06-09&10, 因为尽情欢呼，所以没有毕业证书？

For most highschoolers, graduation day is a culmination¹ of four years' of hard work and dedication².
“It was exciting to walk across the stage.”

But for Honor Student Caisha Gayles, what began as a happy occasion became anything but.

“There was a little cheering, um, like they said my name, there was some cheering for like five seconds and then, that was it. I haven’t even went over to shake Mr.Chiles's hand or get my diploma at all before it was done. ”

But high school officials say those five seconds of cheering were enough to withhold³ her diploma.

“It was disrespectful, I think, to our community.”

After a very rowdy graduation two years ago, Assistant Superintendent⁴ Joel Estes explains the school district adopted a zero-tolerance approach to the graduation ceremony, making graduates and their families sign a behavior contract.

“That said they would refrain from these kinds of outbursts and celebrations, that we were going to be in order and it was going to be honorable and dignified⁵ so that everybody could hear their names.”

But for Caisha and her mother, that explanation is not enough.

“That's what I don't understand why it's a big issue, you know, it wasn't even disrupting the ceremony.”

“I'm not angry at my family at all. I'm glad they cheered for me because it's my day, you know, I graduated, you know, they're proud of me and I'm glad they showed that they're proud of me. ”

Now all that's left of what Caisha said should've been the happiest day of a high school career are these withering⁶ balloons --- a sad reminder⁷ of what she's missing.

“All I want is that little piece of paper, I wanna frame it and put it on my wall.”

1 culmination   

n.顶点；最高潮

参考例句：

• The space race reached its culmination in the first moon walk.太空竞争以第一次在月球行走而达到顶峰。
• It may truly be regarded as the culmination of classical Greek geometry.这确实可以看成是古典希腊几何的登峰造级之作。

2 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

3 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

4 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

5 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

6 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。