Graduation

As cliche as this sounds, it seems like it was yesterday that I was standing in my living room, with my Barbie backpack full of crayons, glue, and markers, waiting to go to my first day of Kindergarten. Even though it seems like it was yesterday, it really wasn't. Today, I will walk across the stage in my high school gym, fully decked out in my green robe, green motorboard, gold honor cords, and an honor medallion, and receive the diploma I have worked 13 long years for. It's crazy how 13 years of studying, sacrifice, and struggle all come down to one afternoon ceremony and a piece of paper. High school wasn't always great, hell, there were some days when I hated it with every passion in my body. But, I made a ton of memories and a ton of friends that I'm not ready to let go of yet.  I am very excited to start the next chapter in my life when I start college at Buena Vista University in the fall, but part of me doesn't want to leave high school. My best friend and I met on the first day of Kindergarten, and we've always lived in the same town. Come September, she will be going an hour away for college, while I'll be staying here. Another close friend is moving to Fargo, ND to start school and be with her family who moved there earlier. Two friends are going to Minnesota, and a lot are going across the State or at least 2 hours away for school. I understand we will all keep in touch, but it's going to be a big adjustment going from having all my friends here to them being gone. Everyone says "we'll keep in touch", but, realistically, a lot of us might not. My biggest fear is not failing, not being able to pay for college, or not getting a job in the future, but instead, I fear that I will lose my best friends. But today, I will put that smile on my face and push those bad thoughts out of my mind. I will hug the people that come to my party and thank them for helping me over the years. I'll open my gifts and go to the bank to cash my checks. And I'll celebrate the fact that we actually did it with my best friends. I'll worry about them forgetting everything we ever did together tomorrow. Happy Graduation Day, Storm Lake High School Class of 2012.