Graduation Day

“Everybody please give a warm welcome to our class valedictorian, Sammie Mae!”

Graduation day had finally arrived. The morning had been very chaotic, as my mother frantically ran around, making certain I had everything I needed.  Applause booming, I arose out of my clanky folding chair, clutching my index cards with my speech scribbled on it. I felt the gentle wind of the warm summer breeze and stepped on the freshly cut grass. I turned and walked on the steps of the stage, nodded to Mr. Sanders, our principal, stood behind the podium stand. I peered into the crowd.  I noticed my parents gleaming with joy, my twelve-year-old brother dozing from pure boredom I grinned and my best friend Tara, both of us giving each other the biggest thumbs up we could muster. 

“Teachers, parents, and classmates. It is an honor to stand before you today.” I began to recite my speech, which I basically memorized after all the practice sessions I held in my bathroom. As I was telling my speech to everyone in attendance, I began to think about the past eighteen years of my life. I’ve always felt, even as a child, that time moves and ticks so quickly. Quicker than I wish it would.  I’ve always wished I could freeze time. Thump. There is never enough time in a single moment, to enjoy it thoroughly. Especially at this moment. Right now,

there is joy and happiness as we face a new beginning. The whole world is at our fingertips. It may sound naïve to say, but life seems to only be beginning for the both of us. Yet, I know whenever I breathe my last, that my life has been worth living.  I wish I could freeze it and stop it at this beautiful moment, and continue to stare at the faces, anticipating what I would say in my speech. For a moment, a moment, it feels as if the both of us can take on the entire world. 

 “Highschool has been full of fond memories. Memories to last an entire lifetime.” I said to the audience. However, personally, not all my high school memories were enjoyable. Not by a long shot. For a time, it seemed as if this day may never come. Shuffled in and out of hospitals during the first two years of high school, after my diagnosis of Leukemia. My parents consumed by fear, over every little thing I would do, what I would eat, physical activity, etc. I remember those late nights spent in the hospital beds, feeling so sick I could barely eat. Yet my best friend never left my side. I could never forget the look on her face when I told her of my diagnosis. I put it off for months, but knew the longer I waited, the harder it would get. She spent almost as much time in the hospital as I did. During her frequent visits she would bring me my homework, tell me the latest class drama, and discuss our favorite soap opera together. For two years, she was patient with my sickness. The day I went into remission, was one of the best days of our lives! We celebrated by going to our favorite ice cream shop and treating ourselves to a mini shopping spree, one of our favorite outings to do on an especially happy day.

 In two months, we both would leave for college, and begin a new chapter of our lives. I would begin this experience of college, and hopefully, the acceptance of nursing school. After surviving leukemia, I was fascinated with the medical field, especially the heart. I Thump.  I become intrigued by the arteries and veins. I especially enjoyed listening to the beating of

someone’s heart. Thump. After telling my parents about my decision to go into nursing school, my mom splurged and bought a stethoscope. Somewhat silly, because I wasn’t even in nursing school, yet it was my favorite gift I’ve ever received. Every time Tara would come over, I begged her to let me use the stethoscope, after several times, she began to get annoyed, but eventually she would cave and let me have a turn. I always enjoyed school and the homework our teachers would give, however Tara did not. Tara always had a difficult time academically.  She struggled in her assignments and tried her best to understand it. Tests would stress her, and she would not score well in them. After begging for help from our teachers but not receiving, I decided to tutor her in most of her subjects, since no one else would.  

However, when I became sick her grades really began to suffer. For the longest time I was unaware, until she finally told me the truth. I became worried she would drop out of school altogether. So, I began to tutor her again. I did my best to help her understand Romeo and Juliet, algebraic equations, and the Civil War. Yet, she persevered.  I discussed the concepts with her, and it clicked. All this time, she needed someone to discuss these ideas and facts with, not fill out information in a test. She was determined to do well and worked as hard as she could. Thump. Tara worked extremely hard and managed to finish the senior year with A’s and B’s. We even get to go to the same college together! As I pursue nursing school, Tara’s goal is elementary education. After I tutored her, she learned she wanted to teach children who have difficulty like she did. Teach them differently than how she was taught and help show them that school and lessons can be enjoyable.  I always enjoy the excited look she shows when she discusses her future classroom and children she’ll teach.  She’s constantly volunterring in the children’s ministry at church and teaches a Sunday School class. She’s always been gifted when

talking to children, and I know she’ll be the best elementary teacher that there is. In only a few short months, we’ll both be off to college, starting a brand-new chapter of our lives. 

“We all have worked extremely hard to get to this day, and all of our work did not go to waste.” 

I stared into the crowd of royal blue caps and gowns. Everyone looking intently at me, prior milestones seemed to flash before my eyes, as if I was watching a movie of the important milestones of my life.  Thump.  I saw my dad teaching me how to ride a bike, the day Tara and I first met, our first class dance, my first date, my cancer diagnosis, the day I learned I was in remission, the day we learned Tara and I both got accepted into the same college, and today. ”  Then I thought back, to only a few weeks ago. 

                                                

“C’mon Tara!” I said from her kitchen. Tara bolted down the stairs into the kitchen. After another classic Tara and Sammie sleepover, we both decided to spend our Saturday morning baking a cake together, with a large lack of baking experience, to relieve our stress at the time. Finals were coming up soon, and as stressed as we both were, we knew we needed a Saturday full of enjoyment and laughter.

“What do we do first” Tara asked.

“Follow the instructions. Duh.” I pulled the flour and sugar from the cabinet, while Tara read the instructions of the back of the box of cake mix.

“But first, we need a drink.”I said as she grabbed two ice cold bottles of Dr. Pepper.

“Duh.” Tara said.   Both of us girls cracked the eggs, scooped the flour, sipped our cold sodas, poured the cake mix, mixed the ingredient together until we finally had that creamy mixture.

“Now time for the best part.” I said, after we put the cake into the flaming oven.  

“What’s th­­— “Before Tara could finish her thought out loud, I handed her the spatula dripping and oozing with cake batter. Grinning, Tara swiped the oozing batter, and we both licked as much batter as they wanted. We hopped onto the kitchen counter, giggling, and eating cake batter, while waiting for our yummy cake. For an afternoon, we forgot about our stressful upcoming exams, and enjoyed the present moment.  It was such an ordinary morning, yet full of hope and contentment for the future.

Thump.  Back to our present time reality. Time continues to speed by.  Drips of sweat slide down the side of face, as the sun shines right in front of me. I scan the crowd watching teary eyed parents to snotty nosed toddlers. “Today, is not the ending. Yes, it may be the end of our high school years, however it is merely the beginning to the next chapter of our lives. Guys,

we did it!” Applause booms from the roaring audience, I hear the clackity clack of the folding chairs as all my eight-eight classmates rise and give a standing ovation. Thump.  I grin and nod to the audience, shake hands with Mr. Sanders, and stepped down the creaking wooden steps, to join the rest of my classmates in the creaky metal folding chairs. Mr. Sanders finishes the remainder of the graduation ceremony and leads us through the handing of the diplomas. 

As I walked across the stage, I felt as if this was a typical graduation scene in a teen movie. None of this felt real. I smiled and waved at my proud parents and walked back to my seat. One by one the rest of the students received their diploma. Tara was one of the last students, because her last name starts with a W.  I boomed and roared as Tara went across the stage. First, because I was proud of her, but also, I know how much she hates being the center of attention. 

Thump.  The rest of the ceremony seemed to go slow. This was not a moment where I typically wished for time to freeze. Maybe, because I felt extremely ready and impatient for the ending of the ceremony.  I was eager to spend time with my family, eat cake, and take the magnitude of photos I knew my mother would force upon me. I shifted, caused a loud creaking noise from the old metal chair, which I doubt anybody paid much attention to, and pulled a blade of grass from the ground. I pulled it apart piece by piece, until it was scattered across the grassy ground. I’m not sure why, however, it seemed to ease my impatience.  At last, the final moments of graduation had arrived. “Students, you may now change your tassels from right to left.” Mr. Sanders said. Almost instantaneously, applause and cheers roared. I looked to my right and left, and the rest of the graduates around me. We locked eyes, and everybody and nodded. Quarterback Connor Murphy yelled, “Let’s go! Class of 2015!” We threw our royal blue caps in the hair, despite many orders given over the past semester by Mr. Sanders to not ever throw our caps during graduation. 

I jumped up from the chair and scanned the crowd for my parents and Tara. I found her in a crowd of royal blue and ran towards Tara, however head bumped into Jimmy Nelson, and fell backwards. I apologized quickly and scrambled to my feet. Tara was standing by her parents, giving each of them hugs. “Tara!” She turned her head and sprinted towards me! Thump. We hugged and grasped each other’s hands. 

            “I can’t believe we made it! Tara said. We squeezed each other’s hands and looked all around us. Parents, Grandparents. Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, and Sisters were glowing with pride at all the graduates, and we were finally one of them.

            “C’mon. We better go. It’s time for our graduation photoshoot.” We linked our arms together and walked towards the beginning of our lives’. Thump.