When I think of high school graduation, I picture High School Musical 3. The graduates appear from behind a glorious red curtain. I also think of Troy giving his speech while the crowd watches in excitement. Then, everyone sings how they are "all in this together" while the audience bawls their eyes out (myself included) from the ending of their favorite childhood movie.
But in all honesty, high school graduation is not like that at all. We do not gather in a circle and cheer together right before the big musical number.
The last four years of my life have been spent on the same campus and I spent my summers at home (not in and out of fancy country clubs). Unlike the Wildcats, I spent my nights crying over failed tests and boys. I always envied the social pool parties and undeniable romances, but Disney did hit one thing on the head. Graduation is full of emotion.
To graduate, you will feel it all. You will be so excited to be finished with high school. No more essays, no more teachers you didn't like, and no more peers that you couldn't stand. You will be sad. It's difficult to leave behind all the good friends and the memories that you cherish. But mostly you will be exhausted. You will be so run down with essays for scholarships, graduation parties, and writing five million thank you notes. It is totally and unbearably exhausting.
So what if you do not get musical numbers and dramatic curtains. The only feeling you should remember is the pride for your achievement. You have made it four years in some of the most difficult years of your life. You have given yourself the opportunity to get a high school diploma and further your education. Yes, it may feel like you have been coasting by, but you have still achieved something that part of the U.S population had not.
Somehow, we are all Wildcats at heart. Troy and Gabriela choked back tears as they said goodbye, much like I will to my best friend when she also leaves for college. Troy and Chad remembered their days on the basketball court like I have done with all of my favorite classes. The group celebrated together as we all should do.
So, class of 2016, be proud of what you have done. Believe in yourself and your goals because "could you imagine, what would happen, if we could have any dream?"
