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Class of 02 - All Growed Up
Jun. 8th, 2002 04:46 pmIt's official, the class of 02 has finally graduated. This morning I watched some of my best friends enter the real world. It was both glorious and hertbreaking.
This year's class was considerably smaller then last years, so when I arrived a half hour early there were still plenty of aisle seats left. I promptly grabbed one and readied myself to get some fabulous photos! Eventually Gemma, Adrienne, and Tina joined me. As the starting time drew closer and closer my smile grew larger and larger. I just felt so proud. I couldn't believe all of these people who I love, who had taken care of me, who had stood by my side through thick and thin, who had dealt with tons of SHIT made it through these past four years in one piece and were about to make lives for themselves. I was filled to bursting.
As the processional began it finally hit me that this was it. That next year I would not return to these beautiful faces, smiles and hugs. I almost cried but I managaed to keep it together. I just felt my pride swell and smiled like crazy. I guess I was lucky, I wound up on the side of the aisle that all my pals passed on. Clark touched my nose as he passed. I grabbed Heather, Tristina, Steffi, and Gayle's hands as they passed. Mary Morales blew me a kiss. The procession stalled as Bryce passed and he waved his hand at me saying "C'mon, sneak in line!"
Me: Will you hide me under your robe?
Bryce: (lifts robe) Yeah c'mon!
Me: I'll make it worth you while!
(Bryce and Carla laugh as procession continues.)
Tina was crying and hugging everyone. So the four of us sat in the back row and made fun of the speakers for the entire ceremony. We also made a HUGE racket when all our buds got their diplomas. We were screaming so loud that by the time the last student left the stage we realized we had become an island. All the people who had been sitting around us had gotten up and moved!
Then they all came back down the aisle with that shimmering newly graduated look on their faces! It was so beautiful!
I spent the next hour or so making my way across the lawn taking pictures of everyone. I got some really outstanding pictures. I can't wait to get the roll developed. I didn't want to leave, I just wanted to keep roaming around and taking photos. I didn't want to miss any one, I had to tell EVERYONE goodbye! It was bittersweet. Tina and Adrienne practically had to drag me away from Gayle. Her family left immediately after the ceremony. I just couldn't stop hugging her. She is undoubtably one of my best friends and one of the people I most look forward to seeing every fall. I kept feeling as if I let go of her then I'd never see her again. Which is of course bullshit because she is only gonna be in Chicago next year! But I just couldn't let her go. What am I going to do without my Gayley? I made her promise to email me everyday.
After the ceremony, Adrienne, Tina and I went out to lunch at the Broadview. And now we are home. Tina is resting and I am packing. Tomorrow I get to go home! And since I don't have a great internet connection you may not be hearing much from me in the next three months. Be forewarned.
I'm happy to be heading home, but I hate packing. And I'm much sadder then I thought I would be about graduation. I still realize that this is the right thing, that it is time. But how I'm going to miss everyone. So many people I'll never see again, so many I love, so many whove watched me grow and change, and who have weathered those changes with me.
Know that I love you all. And I will miss you forever. I miss the friends and the enemies. I will hold you in my heart forever. Please forgive my sentimentality. But you have taught me so many things. I can honestly say I am not the same person I was four years ago, and it's all because of the class of 2002. I thank you for the good the bad and the ugly times. And I thank you for letting me learn from you.
May the road rise up to meet you.
Carla
This year's class was considerably smaller then last years, so when I arrived a half hour early there were still plenty of aisle seats left. I promptly grabbed one and readied myself to get some fabulous photos! Eventually Gemma, Adrienne, and Tina joined me. As the starting time drew closer and closer my smile grew larger and larger. I just felt so proud. I couldn't believe all of these people who I love, who had taken care of me, who had stood by my side through thick and thin, who had dealt with tons of SHIT made it through these past four years in one piece and were about to make lives for themselves. I was filled to bursting.
As the processional began it finally hit me that this was it. That next year I would not return to these beautiful faces, smiles and hugs. I almost cried but I managaed to keep it together. I just felt my pride swell and smiled like crazy. I guess I was lucky, I wound up on the side of the aisle that all my pals passed on. Clark touched my nose as he passed. I grabbed Heather, Tristina, Steffi, and Gayle's hands as they passed. Mary Morales blew me a kiss. The procession stalled as Bryce passed and he waved his hand at me saying "C'mon, sneak in line!"
Me: Will you hide me under your robe?
Bryce: (lifts robe) Yeah c'mon!
Me: I'll make it worth you while!
(Bryce and Carla laugh as procession continues.)
Tina was crying and hugging everyone. So the four of us sat in the back row and made fun of the speakers for the entire ceremony. We also made a HUGE racket when all our buds got their diplomas. We were screaming so loud that by the time the last student left the stage we realized we had become an island. All the people who had been sitting around us had gotten up and moved!
Then they all came back down the aisle with that shimmering newly graduated look on their faces! It was so beautiful!
I spent the next hour or so making my way across the lawn taking pictures of everyone. I got some really outstanding pictures. I can't wait to get the roll developed. I didn't want to leave, I just wanted to keep roaming around and taking photos. I didn't want to miss any one, I had to tell EVERYONE goodbye! It was bittersweet. Tina and Adrienne practically had to drag me away from Gayle. Her family left immediately after the ceremony. I just couldn't stop hugging her. She is undoubtably one of my best friends and one of the people I most look forward to seeing every fall. I kept feeling as if I let go of her then I'd never see her again. Which is of course bullshit because she is only gonna be in Chicago next year! But I just couldn't let her go. What am I going to do without my Gayley? I made her promise to email me everyday.
After the ceremony, Adrienne, Tina and I went out to lunch at the Broadview. And now we are home. Tina is resting and I am packing. Tomorrow I get to go home! And since I don't have a great internet connection you may not be hearing much from me in the next three months. Be forewarned.
I'm happy to be heading home, but I hate packing. And I'm much sadder then I thought I would be about graduation. I still realize that this is the right thing, that it is time. But how I'm going to miss everyone. So many people I'll never see again, so many I love, so many whove watched me grow and change, and who have weathered those changes with me.
Know that I love you all. And I will miss you forever. I miss the friends and the enemies. I will hold you in my heart forever. Please forgive my sentimentality. But you have taught me so many things. I can honestly say I am not the same person I was four years ago, and it's all because of the class of 2002. I thank you for the good the bad and the ugly times. And I thank you for letting me learn from you.
May the road rise up to meet you.
Carla
