Completing the journey: Trib photographs Hempfield student on first, last days of school

| Back | Text Size:

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/completing-the-journey-trib-photographs-hempfield-student-on-first-last-days-of-school/

Completing the journey: Trib photographs Hempfield student on first, last days of school

Patrick Varine | Friday, May 31, 2019 3:39 p.m.

Sean Stipp | Tribune-Review

First-grader Jordan Ruble, 6, is comforted by his sister Sydney Ruble, 10, and Principal Rose Duda after arriving on the bus at West Point Elementary School on August 27, 2007. Jordan was reluctant to separate from his sister.

Rebecca Ruble of Hempfield initially was not too happy to see a photo in the Tribune-Review showing her son, Jordan, crying on his first day of first grade.

On Friday, though, it was Ruble herself potentially on the verge of tears as Jordan headed off to his final day of high school. Tribune-Review visuals director Sean Stipp — who took the original photograph 12 years ago — snapped more of Jordan as he walked through his old elementary school, now fitted with a cap and gown.

“There’s 18 years of memories flashing through my mind,” Rebecca Ruble said. “I look at those ‘bookend’ pictures and it reminds me of what we say in our house: ‘Everything happens for a reason.’”

While his mom was initially upset about the first-grade photo, Jordan said it is now one of her favorite pictures.

“Teaching our kids to overcome adversity isn’t easy,” Rebecca Ruble said. “We can’t do it on our own. The teachers and administrators at Hempfield help all of those kids, and I’m super-proud of their accomplishments.”

Jordan was among 433 seniors to receive their diplomas Friday night. He will be attending West Virginia University in the fall to study data analytics and business marketing.

Email Newsletters