I Will Carry You With Me

Yesterday was my high school graduation ceremony. One of the things that is looked forward to the most. We've been waiting four years through high school, and 13 years through our school lives. We've laughed, we've cried, and we've worked hard to get there. We've overcome obstacles, made and lost friends, and all that stuff. All of it leading up to this one moment in our lives. A culmination of everything we have done for the past 13 years of our lives.

Going to sleep the night before graduation proved to be a challenge. It was a mixture of anticipation, sadness, happiness, and just fear. I had watched my sister's high school graduation, but it was a new ball game. I would be the one in the cap and gown. I couldn't get to sleep because I was thinking of the fact that I would miss my friends, and the experiences, and most of all the memories. It was not an easy task getting my body to calm down enough to actually sleep. None the less, a little after 2 AM I was asleep.

I woke up at around 7:30 to start getting ready. Why I got up that early, I don't know, because it didn't take that long to get ready, but in any case, I was up. This morning was spent with much prayer, just about the day, and other things. Just knowing that I am going to miss seeing most of my 196 person class. After preparation, and pictures, my mother was there to take me to the Civic Center.

Arriving at the Civic Center, my mom made me take pictures with her and grandmom. Something I had to deal with willingly, because you only graduate high school once. Hidden Valley had just had their graduation, so I am seeing many of my newly graduated friends and acquaintances. I was in shock. It was really about to happen. I was about to take a huge step in life. I met up with a friend to head into the civic center and get ready to walk in. We hung out, took a few pictures, and talked. Just about anticipation, and excitement. After talking with a few teachers I had become close with, and hanging out with my friends one last time as high schoolers, it was that time. Time to line up and go into the main part and begin the ceremony.

Walking into the ceremony, it seemed as if it was unreal. Everything felt like a dream. I wouldn't have been surprised if I had woken up halfway through it from a real dream. Nope, it was really happening, and nothing was going to stop that. I spent most of the opening minutes searching for where my family was sitting. They had chosen quite an impeccable spot. Right next to the stage where we would walk after being handed our diploma case.  After all of us were in, we stood there as we started the ceremony

We started the ceremony with the pledge of allegiance, and the national anthem. After that was all done, our fellow student talked to us. The young man who had been voted the Knight of the class of 2013 was going to address us one last time. He spoke on a few different topics, but the ones that stood out to me were very important. He talked about the keys to living a happier, more joy-filled life. First, you must laugh every day. Laughter is the showing of joy in the heart, as long as it's true laughter. 2nd, do 3 things for someone else every day. They could be as small as holding a door open for someone, or as big as giving them food in a time of need. Serving others is a very joyous thing, and it makes you feel good about yourself. 3rd, make a list of at least 3 things to do, and make sure to do them. This will at least make your day seem productive. These also can be as small as taking out the trash, doing laundry, or washing dishes. This will give you that sense of accomplishment, and everyone loves that feeling. I couldn't have been more proud of my friend for being able to speak so well even though he admitted he wasn't much of a public speaker. I am proud to call him my friend. After a few awards had been given out, we got the pleasure of hearing from another fellow student. Though I can't remember what she said, I was proud of her for her confidence, and just once again, to call her my friend. After that was done, a few more awards were given out, then the big moment came: The diploma walk. One row at a time, we stood, walked over to the stage and then when our name was called, we walked across to our principal, who would hand us our diploma cases and shake our hands one last time, and let us go. We then walked to see this man who is the head of Roanoke County Schools. He runs the show, and he was there to speak to us. He only said a few words to me, which I'm sure he said to everyone else, but it was still great for him to be there. We then walked off the stage to get a picture taken that I messed up. My family was sitting right there, cheering for me as I had this happen. We then sat back down and waited for the rest of our class.

After everyone had their diplomas, we all stood up, then when told, we moved our tassels from the right to left, and we were officially graduates of Cave Spring High School. The Class of 2013 was put into the history books.  Nothing can take that title from us. After we picked up our caps from throwing them in the air, as tradition says to do, we proceeded to walk out of the main area. Some of us had tears in our eyes, but all of us had joy in our hearts. When we got back in the back room, I let it out. I was crying because it was a hard fought battle to get here, and it was finally over. I was crying because my best friends would soon be going their separate ways, and I knew I would miss them greatly. There were many reasons I was crying. I may be crazy, but I will miss Cave Spring High School. I will miss everything I did there. So many memories have been made, but are now just nice things to remember. I hugged my friends and some of my teachers. I was wearing my emotions on my sleeve, and everyone knew how I felt about it. I said goodbye to some friends I knew I might not see much, and then I went to find my family.

In the search, I ran into my friends, Rachel, Chris, Cody, and Justin. Rachel ran up to me and hugged me, we talked for a while, and after all had been said that could, she and I went our separate ways. I found my dad, and slowly but surely, I found the rest of the family. Put my cap back on to get a tassel-to-the-left picture, and then it was time to go. I was an emotional wreck, and needed to calm down.

Graduation was the end of a chapter in my life. The beginning of another. I soon leave for my college of choice; Liberty University. I am glad to be attending with a few great friends. I am excited for it. I can only hope and pray that it is not the end of my friendships with these people. I already miss some of them, and we haven't said goodbye formally yet. There is so much I could go on with this about, but I just know that this isn't the end of our journey. We may not be together in person, but our spirit will always have that connection. It is not goodbye forever.

The song that comes to mind while writing this is "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood. The chorus of this song goes

I will see you again, oh woah
This is not where it ends
I will carry you with me, oh
Til I see you again.

I do believe this is an appropriate theme for graduation everywhere. Though I know the song was not written for that reason, it fits. I know that I will always carry the memories of high school with me everywhere I go. I will miss it all, the classrooms, the friendships, the football games, the soccer matches, and everything in between.


"The rear view mirror is smaller than the windshield. So you can always look back at your past without taking your eyes off the road."

Take Care
I love you guys
TJ