My Graduation Essay

“Just one word … plastics,” the statement that alone can summarize Mike Nichols’ 1967 film, The Graduate. However, when Mr. McQuire tells the movie’s main character, Ben Braddock, that there is "a great future in plastics" he finds it irrelevant and escapes to be alone in his room. However this comment surreptitiously creates a parallel to everything we see in Ben’s life. Whether it be the apprehensive relationship with his parents, an alienated affair with Mrs. Robinson, or the near unsuccessful pursuit in finding the man within, the film conveys a strong sense of how fear and self doubt can lead to the ultimate downfall in a person.

At my graduate assistantship at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the graduate students from Monmouth were introduced to a few of the key offices that work with Residential Education and Housing. Through this introduction, I was able to meet Kelly Hennessy, who is the current Associate Dean of Students in the Department of Health and Wellness at The College of New Jersey. As a future Student Affairs professional, one of my end goals would ultimately become a Dean of Students, so it was exciting to interview Hennessy and see how she got to where she is today. Originally when Hennessy first started her college years, she thought that she wanted to be a teacher. After working with the professionals in her Residence Life Office and Leadership Office at the University of Buffalo, where she received both her bachelors and master’s degrees, she realized that her passion was no longer teaching, but rather to become the professionals she was surrounded and inspired by every day. Hennessy has worked in Residence Life for majority of her career up to about two years ago when the Department of Health and Wellness first started on TCNJ’s campus.

It was early July in Southern California: the sun was high, the air was warm, and the palm trees were swaying. Unfortunately, the bright sun could not light the darkness of the pit I had been slowly falling into during my tumultuous school year at my new charter school. On that day, when the other girls were tanning beachside, I was sitting deskside. I was trapped in a tiny, moldy, yellow-carpeted education office at the school I had transferred to the year prior. Like my fading hope, the dusty chandelier was barely hanging on from the ceiling. The room’s peculiarity added to my anxiety, as I felt failure lingering in the musty air. Though I had been sheltered by my parents’ optimism, I knew what I would soon hear: “I am so sorry sweetheart,

Sophomore year, I joined my High School's division of Kiwanis Key Club. The club prided itself with their devotion to community service. I thought that the club would be a great vehicle for me to assist my community while creating and expanding my relationships. However, I was greatly disappointed in the club my Sophomore year. There appeared to be little leadership present, so hardly any community service successfully took place. I made it my goal to gain a leadership position and turn the club around. Junior year, I was elected as President of the club and was re-elected to the position my Senior year.

It seemed like a normal day at the time, the sun was shining, the waves crashed on the shore, steady and reassuring. I did a lot of thinking that day. I thought of my future, of what I wanted to accomplish in life.Only now I realize that it wasn’t a normal day at all. It was the day I decided to graduate early.

Arrayed in semi-formal attire students attended the 13th “Farewell Dance”, which was held in the Christopher Columbus Middle School gym. Each year a different theme is used and this year’s was “Circus”. The 278 member graduating class passed by a colorful, surreal entry of oversized lollipops before descending into the Big Top area.

I had started the day early in preparation. At 5 A.M., I had woken up, before anyone in my house had stirred from their night of sleep. I grabbed a t-shirt, shorts, my phone, a pair of earbuds, and a hoodie. It was essential that I kept myself as calm as possible. I stepped on the scale, praying that I had not gained any amount of weight, it read 175lbs – this would suffice for the open weight class. The open weight class was for anyone over 175lbs. I allowed myself some food, a piece of bread and a glass of water would suffice. Three hours would pass, filled mostly with pacing and deep thought on my behalf. I would wake up my mother, who had arranged to take me to the venue, Phoenix College. The thirty minute trip was painfully long, with each mile I questioned my decisions. Was I ready? What if I got

The first quarter is always the hardest for me, this one especially as I work a lot after school. Being senior year I was looking to take an easy route, but instead I took hard classes to keep challenging myself; looking back now I should have taken the easy route. The biggest struggle has been finding time to work in homework after work, getting my work in on time, and I’m looking to improve my quality of work for the next quarter.

To start off the next four years, we attended the Honor and Integrity Ceremony. I was very taken back by how important the honor code was at this school. The amount of expectations placed upon me the very first day certainly conveyed the amount of personal responsibility I would need to have while

“Attention all Students of Colorado State School. Please report to the auditorium immediately.” I threw on my bland uniform, and started to head towards the elevators. Everyone was either piling down the stairs, or waiting in a huge line for the elevator. I decided to take on the wild pack of students going down the stairs.

The underclassman-me felt ready to abandon hope when I had to present myself to the class. It consisted of a few freshmen and sophomores, half a dozen juniors, and twice as many seniors who in hindsight, probably didn’t even notice the stunned look on my face while I introduced myself to the class. But it was Ms. Hanson that caught on and knew exactly what to do with me. She swiftly forced me out of my dwindling comfort-bubble and strategically placed me on Homecoming planning committee with none of my freshmen friends. It was devastating, terrifying. And I knew I had to buck up and

Then, as the last girl passed through, everyone went back to their places. I sucked in a rasped breath as I pushed the red, thick steel lunch room doors. With my hair covering the front of my face like a funeral veil, I examined the hard, smooth marble floors as I shuffled through the sea of shoes until I reached the wall. A hush fell over the crowd as the principal came strolling in. He started giving a speech about the school dance this Friday, yet I drowned him out. Today was January twenty-seventh, Stella’s birthday. I could not hold it in anymore as I sank against the wall, silently letting all the sorrow and despair flow out of me. Two pink sneakers came to rest on the glazed marble floors. “Well, do you not want to join us?” questioned a clipped, sickly sweet voice. Willing myself to raise my head, I slowly brought my eyes up. She was wearing a short checkered skirt with a navy blue collared shirt. I met the girl’s eyes. A shocking electric blue. “Well, are you going to answer me or not?” she asked again. “Um...sure…” I replied, mesmerized by the amount of makeup the girl had on. I felt hands on my shoulders as her crew pulled me to my feet. I stared at the floor the whole time until I reached the designated “popular”

     Tony finished getting ready, and then we left for the high school. The parking lot was filled with all the other seniors’ cars. Tony and I walked into the library ten minutes late like usual, and the principal had already started giving instructions. I found my place in line and then was all ears. I couldn’t help but look around at all the others. Smiles were plastered on their faces as if they had heard a hilarious joke. Once the principal concluded his speech, the whole senior class paraded down the hallway to the commons in two uniform lines stopping just outside the gymnasium doors. We could hear the band warming up and playing songs. All the people that were standing around me were bubbling

Graduation day arrived and I had butterflies out of this world. It seemed as if I misplaced everything. I could not find my dress. My family came from one state to another. I finally got to the church were the commencement was going to be held. I

Monday, May 16th, graduation day. It’s 5:37 in the morning and I remember this cause I never wake up earlier than 8 unless I have to, but today I didn’t have to. It’s the day culminating twelve years of hard work and dedication into a three hour ceremony in which I will actually have to do something with my life other than a routine I believe I’ve perfected throughout these last four years. I roll over and pick up my phone, a dim light comes through a slit in my window shades just to remind me how early it actually is. I can’t fall back asleep so I decide to get out of bed. I sit up on my bed rubbing my eyes trying to make sense of the room around me, I may have lived here for 18 years but I can never find the cord to my ceiling light. I