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It's safe to say that I have completed my Kindergarten-8th grade experience. Yes, I'm sad to leave the middle school behind, and yes I'm sad to leave those old teachers behind. I'm also glad. Glad for the start at a new school, glad for new teachers that don't know me well, glad for new students that come to my grade, and glad for summer. I am glad for friends, and their support. As everybody claims; I'm in for the time of my life. So is every child out there, whether they're in school or not. Take time to congratulate yourself, family, peers, and friends.
On the evening of June 17th, I graduated from middle school. After listening to the principal drone on and on about how proud she is of us, witnessing other students and myself receive awards and medallions, respectfully listening to my peers present speeches, and trying not to cry during the slide show, my name was called over the microphone. My name echoed and repeated through my head about fifteen times louder than it probably did in everybody else's. I stepped forth to shake the principal's hand, take the certificate, smile at the audience, and return to my seat. Once everybody received their certificates, we met up with our partners, and marched out of the room for the final time.
Downstairs in the cafeteria, we enjoyed cake and socialized. I joined the group of students who received awards, and we smiled for the newspaper photographer. I opened a card from my dad, and it contained $50. After the reception, I went with my friend to the town's community center for a graduation party. We swam for an hour or so, and then dried off and changed; moving into the gym. We danced, danced, danced, and ate ice cream that was generously donated to us. You'd think that this day would be perfect for me, but it wasn't. It definitely wasn't.
Earlier that day, my heart practically skipped a beat when my friend approached me and told me that my boyfriend was breaking up with me. Why? I'm sure there was a reason for this disappointment, but why would he do it on the last day of school? There are multiple explanations for this, and maybe the fact that it's summer and we wouldn't see each other every day was a reason. My friends helped me cope with this, and I thank them so much. They kept me under control throughout the day. Without friends, where would I be today? What type of person would I be? A thousand words can describe a friend, but a friend is worth much more than a thousand words.
As I move on to high school, some of my friends are moving. Some are attending other high schools. Some don't know where they're going, or don't know if they're staying in town or not. I promised myself that I'll keep in touch with them. As for the friends that are moving up to the same high school as I am, I hope to become closer to them than ever before. I don't think a person can survive high school without friends, or people in general that care for them. Who else would I stay up all night with, cramming for exams the next day? Or, who else would stay on the phone with me for hours, just listening to me cry and/or complain about something? I could never live without the friends I have, and if I ever lose them, I'll be shredded to pieces. Friends fight together, friends cry together, friends shop together; friends stick together.
Overall, in my opinion, life equals friends and people that care for you. That's just my opinion. If you thought back to every situation you were in where you thought everything was falling apart, think about how you coped with that. Did friends help you? Did a brother or sister help you? Did a family member, neighbor, teacher, principal, pet, or stranger help you? Did you help yourself? Even if you survived through it by yourself, it shows that you have self respect and that you care for yourself. Don't go to drastic measures if things go wrong. We all experience times like that, right? Don't decide to deal with a temporary problem with a permanent solution. Love yourself, love the people who care for you, love your peers, love your friends, and love the world you're in. Even if you're experiencing tough times, you have the power to change as much as you believe you can. Think about how much your friends mean to you. Call someone tonight, just to say hi. Write a letter to a friend you had way back in first grade. E-mail a friend that just moved a few months ago. Do whatever you can to show your friends that you care, because they are a necessity in life.
Author's Note: It was hard to write the break-up part, and I had second thoughts of writing about it, but I felt that it was needed since my friends helped me cope.
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