Graduation, like all major moments in one's life, is a stepping stone to something bigger, something greater. It is a moment where we can all come together and celebrate one another's accomplishments. It is a moment where we are able to see our hard work pay off. It is a moment where for a second everything seems to fall into place.
My AP English teacher would call this moment a tableau because it is one of those times that seem frozen in space. A moment we will remember for a lifetime. Yet, somehow graduation is more than just a day where we dress up and remember the good times before we leave. It serves as one final last.
As we take our separate paths into the unknown we must notice that this is the last time we will sit side by side as classmates. It is the last time we will set foot in our school as students. It could be the last time we have all of our family around us. It is for all intents and purposes a catalytic turning point for our lives because this day represents the arrow leading us to the next stage.
At this point, life is still a blank canvas for us to fill in with our wants and desires. Practically all options are open - good and bad - for us to do what we want because it is now our world to conquer.
Yet, for all of the good and bad, I wouldn't change a thing because my high school experience helped shape who I am today. I am here today because of the people and events that impacted my life. Even though, I'm going to be far away from the family and friends that I hold dear I know that the relationships I cultivated in these 4 years won't be for naught. It may be a wrap, but this isn't the end - it's just the beginning.
