Graduation Shot-Personal Narrative

“It’s okay Aggie, we found the certificate, just relax now” she comforted me. The lady signaled us for us to come forward to the desk and ordered, “I got your certificate and I’m gonna go ahead and print it. You and your mom need to sign here and here” she pointed as I grabbed a pen and signed. The lady then told me to stand in front of a blue paper and said “smile” as she took the picture. I wasn’t in the best mood to smile, but I made myself because I knew I would regret it later if I didn’t.

High school Commencement in the United States is a tradition like no other. Every June, high school seniors dress in their Sunday best and head to the tried-and-true ritual. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles swarm to secondary institutions with their cameras in hand. With the sea of hats and gowns, the graduating class is unified and united. Over the recent decades, Commencements across the United States have incorporated cords and stoles. These emphasize both communal and individual achievements throughout students’ secondary education and their community. At Chisago Lakes High School (CLHS), these achievements are recognized at Commencement with a variety of cords. Students who participate in the National

Finally, the school dean and an unfamiliar teacher entered. Politely, I smiled, momentarily adopting my parents’ optimism. After our courtesy greetings, the dean flatly stated the exact words I feared. The words rang in my head at that moment, and for years to come. As melodramatic as this sounds, this moment changed my life.

At about half past nine we walking to the auditorium where we were to wait until our current principal Mrs. Erskine was finished with her speech. Then after so many long minutes her speech ended and one by one she called our names to walk up the aisle

Moors hand and took he degree. She smiled and gave me a little wave. “Cameron Anderson.” Cameron took him degree and threw his arms up in the air and shouted. “Paul Shank.” Paul walked up to the stage and grabbed his graduation degree and shouted “I never thought I would make it this far”. Which caused everybody in the auditorium to laugh. “Hunter Basola” hunter approached the stage and accepted his degree along with the sash he was given for achieving salutatorian. “Gavin Wills.” I walked up to Mr. Moore and shook his hand as he handed me my high school degree. Mr. Moore pulled me aside while the valedictorian was giving his speech and said “I read your paper you wrote in 8th grade while in Mr. Kroesch class, you should look into becoming a writer.” He told

After the the first shot I took my mind went blank. The adrenaline that flowed throughout my body, the feelings of rush, excitement, and success all in one combination of emotions. These were the feelings I had no idea excited until after that moment. Although I had a slight ache in my shoulder due to the force of the 12 gauge shotgun pushing against my shoulder. I was at a lost of words my only reactions was to run, run as fast as I could to get to the dying turkey. Once there the turkey was not fully dead yet It was still flopping around and blood camp oozing out splattering me. Looking at the suffering bird I places my boot on it head to the ground, then grabbed the turkey's body pulling it so its

One evening, I pulled up to the lot of Faiss Middle School, the facility I’ve been attending for the past nearly three years. Some familiar and unknown peers emerged from cars neighboring my mom’s Honda. Each pupil manifested impeccable formal wear; as all of us settled into the reserved seating, the ceremony began. I recall being escorted to the stand to receive my Presidential Award, and despite my mom being the sole family present, I beamed with pride that night.

Going to the twenty fifth annual Rivercrest high school class of twenty nineteen reunion, eagers, but nervous. I was excited to catch-up with everyone and see what they have made of themselves. Old friends and teachers I am ready to see. Nervous, because, you heard that some of the kids were living a goofy lifestyle. I even heard that one of the teachers went psycho.

I proceeded to walk down the aisle slowly becoming aware of the acrobats doing summersaults in my stomach. With such great prestige I heard the announcer’s voice, “Gerdwine Bourdeau.” Still in displacement of what had just occurred, rivers of joy rushed down my face. In quick pursuit, I shook President Welsh’s hand, turned my cheek and gleamed a smile towards the camera. In an instant flash the proudest moment of my life quickly became a realization. As of August 2016 I would be a graduate student of East Stroudsburg University. All the tears of joy and stressful nights would eventually become memories I tap into over lunch with a group of alumni friends. The ceremony quickly came to an end. Myself as well as hundreds of students rushed in search of their families. I had become overwhelmed in the confusion to only hear a lonely voice over the crowd shout in creole “Gerdwine, Gerdwine!” Moments later I stood in front of my first love, my parents. They gazed with admiration and joy, as I stared into their eyes and seen hard working immigrants from Haiti. Raising seven children wasn’t always easy, they worked day in and day out hiking 12 flights of stairs in a Brooklyn apartment building. All to make sure their children received an education that they were unable to obtain.

One hot afternoon I was playing basketball with my friends named Seth,Kyle, and Logan. We were seeing who could win against each other. To start out we were on defense, they made a 2 pointer, we had to beat them to go to the next game. Next,we had the ball and nobody was open, so I drove the ball in. When I drove the ball in, one of my teammates got open.

Graduation had ended, and the senior class had officially become high school graduates.  Time was given to take pictures afterwards, and then The Last Knight would begin. The place that everyone one would meet was the Knight Statue in front of the wellness building.  At the Knight Statue moms of some of the seniors handed out t-shirts dedicated to the night. The material of the t-shirt felt itchy against my skin, as it had not been washed. After the group photo with the statue; we went to Main Event on a party bus.  Their at Main Event we entertained ourselves with arcade games, bowling, laser tag, and a ropes course. At midnight Main Event closed and we went back to the bus were we traveled to Tyler Jackson’s house. At Tyler’s house

Senior year! Every senior is eager for graduation, their making college decisions, taking their SAT tests, getting senior portraits, and looking forward to getting ready for graduation day. Thinking back now, almost every adult told me my high school years would fly by, they were right.

Over spring break I spent the whole time with my grandma because my parents and my mom's mom, went on a croose. Me and my grandma had a lot of fun, so not going on a croose didn't matter that much. My grandma met my mom in the school parking lot, after my mom checked my out an hour after lunch. Then me and my grandma took the hour drive to get to her house. The next morning my grandma took her dog Ollie outside on a leash. Then everyone got there stuff together after we got dressed. Then we left for Brandson. Later that night me, my grandpa, and my grandma all went out to eat. "Do you know the one thing we left back at the house"? My grandpa asked my grandma right before we left. "what"? My grandma asked. "Ollie's cennal". My grandpa replied.

The most significant practice of the year approached us seniors. The staff put us into groups to keep all the seniors in order. We all were divided into sections and labeled after letters and numbers. Soon after, all the senior class entered the auditorium in an orderly fashion. The practice had us recall memories of our freshmen to senior years. I saw a video that showed pictures of my youth to a young adult. I begin to think of the past and how much fun I had growing up. I also thought about how I would never see some of my friends again. After some time, the staff wanted us to practice walking across the stage. I did not quite understand why we needed to do this; I figured they wanted us to see how fast our life would flash in front of our eyes. At last, practice was over and I was able to go pick up my cap and gown. During this time, I thought about the next day and how it would be the end of another chapter in my years.

Stepping upon a simple stage was the best thing I could have ever done. Overseeing the multitude that was there to witness my every word, every tremble, every emotion, and every heart beat, was then that I realized that the sentiment was real. It was essentially the end of time and I could not bear to hold back what I no intentions of doing. Cry. Tears of joy darted down my face as I walked across the stage and received my ultimate gift. With fancy inscription, my gift was entitled “Class of 2009”. I had just graduated.