Graduation Speech - Original Writing

Nine years ago, I never could have imagined I’d be writing this essay. I was a senior in high school, and, like the rest of my classmates, I was apprehensive about the future. Unlike my classmates, I felt like I had missed the proverbial “you need to get your life together” message. I watched my classmates apply to colleges, their majors already decided and their future careers mapped out. While I was an above average student, I felt I lacked the decisiveness my classmates seemed to have. I did not feel passionate about a career or even a field of study. I felt defective. This was compounded by the financial strain I knew attending college would have on my family. It seemed wasteful to try to “find my passion” at school while squandering

My mom laughed nervously “Ha! We just walked through the Tenderloin… Let’s just pretend that never happened.”

“No Mali. I said no and that’s it! Now go to your room, I’ll call you down when dinner is ready.”, my mom replied obviously annoyed.

“You’re acting like my mother,” Patrick grumbles, stubbornly. He tries and fails to hide his blush. “I’m eating the damn soup, what more do you want?”

“But I-” Caylee was cut off, “I said we’ll talk about it later.” Caylee’s mom got up and went to do the dishes. Caylee’s father got up and gave Caylee a quick smile followed by an eyeroll. Caylee chuckled.

“Where’s dad?” “Speak of the devil.” He walked in and popped a sweet and sour chicken in his mouth. “Sit and eat.” Mom firmly instructed. I took a seat as mom passed out food, loading up our plates as we discussed our day, just like we always have done ever since I can remember.

Michonne stuck out her tongue in disgust. “Nobody likes cauliflower. I guess I’ve always been pretty good with kids.” Before the words fully left her lips an unwelcome sadness settled within her as memories from her past once again flooded through her mind.

“But, this is your favorite dish and mom intend to cooked it for you” Ploy said

My Mom made blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast and while I picked at my plate, she glanced over frowning. "Aiden, are

Jerry encouraged Mark not to make fun of his sister’s cooking as the three of them went to the dining room. He sat at the head of the table and Mark sat at his usual place while Ashley was a little slower to sit in her chair. Jerry took a slice of bread before passing the plate to Mark, he looked at it and then looked at his dad, before he placed it on his plate.

“Something about having energy and you will be the mother.” I just had a moment.” I quickly replied not wanting to shame my mother or myself anymore than what I had that night.

“You keep saying that Riles,” said his mother. “What is it you are trying to do?”

“Thank you, dear, now please wash up and change into a proper dress. We are having guests in half an hour.” her mother replied, placing the carrots into a strainer and putting it under the cool rush of water from the sink.

As soon as we sat for dinner Steve spoke up. "How about after dinner the kids can get to know each other and us adults can enjoy some grown-up juice." My dad laughed and agreed. I noticed Aubrey staring daggers at her dad.

“We have done everything we can, all that is left is to hope for the best” the intensivist said in a crackly voice. I felt powerless and distraught. It was the summer of 2015, just before my medical school final, thesis and graduation. My grandmother was her joyful self a few weeks ago, how was this possible? She always had a distrust and fear of doctors, the only person she opened up to with medical issues was me, her only grandchild. She had not seen a doctor in many years and never undertook any screening tests. Few months prior she began having low-grade fevers and constipation, this alarmed me, so I pleaded with her to see a physician. No luck. Her symptoms became worse; she was getting weaker each passing day. I could not sit and watch my beloved grandmother suffer.