For most (formerly) high school seniors, graduation is but a memory. All the pomp and circumstance have been over long ago, the confetti swept away and plans for college, a job or some type of training are under way.

Not for 18-year-old Jesse Schexnayder.

It wasn’t until this past Monday that Schexnayder celebrated with family and friends the achievement of graduating high school. The reason his ceremony was not held around the same time as public and private schools is that Schexnayder was home schooled. His work had been completed, but he apparently wanted to schedule a time when family and friends could share this important moment.

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At a Mass at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Coteau Holmes, the Schexnayder family put on quite a celebration. There might not have been the ruckus like that of many “traditional” graduations, but there was a lot to celebrate. The graduate, his older brother and older sister participated in the readings, mom did the announcements and dad was Eucharistic minister. A younger brother and younger sister were altar servers. Each had a hand in seeing that Jesse had a memorable experience centered on what’s important to him and them.

As a home-schooled student, you might be surprised that Schexnayder did not develop anti-social behaviors. Neither is he naive to the “ways of the world.” He has great faith and religious convictions that he has developed with the guidance of a loving and caring family.

If this world had more people like Schexnayder, it certainly would be a better place.

He is a young man who gives hope to people who are possibly cynical from years of observing — or being caught in — the “ways of the world.” His future appears bright, not without trials, but certainly with the foundation to make good decisions, the faith to own up to bad ones and the resolve to learn from them.

Schexnayder plans to attend St. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif., in the fall. Although his family and friends will miss him, they will not be far from him in spirit.

Congratulations, Jesse, and godspeed to your future, whatever plan you discover is yours.

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The federal government has accepted new “ethics” rules for taxpayers to fund stem cell research using embryos left over from in vitro fertilization.

Apparently so long as the parents of the embryos put their little ones on a registry and are told other options, it’s OK for public money to pay for stem cell research on them.

A curious thing about the report from the Associated Press was a statement that “federal law prohibits taxpayer money to create or destroy an embryo.” Yet, doesn’t extracting the stem cells from an embryo destroy the poor little guy? If so, by existing laws, why should public money be funding stem cell research?

JEFF ZERINGUE is managing editor of The Daily Iberian. He can be reached at iberianedit@bellsouth.net.