8.26.2010

Senior Year

Wow, senior year already?

A tradition at NCSSM is a ceremony called Convocation. All of the students dress in their best dresses, shirts and ties; and the faculty and staff dress in their academic regalia. We all gather in the auditorium and listen to speakers mark the official beginning of the year. All very formal. At my junior convocation, I remember feeling energized and challenged to do my best at a new school, but this year was different.

We had an amazing speaker, Geeta Patel, who spoke to us about finding what motivates and pulls us; everyone looked great; we had a fun filled reception; and pretty much everything was the same. Except afterwards, when the seniors gathered around with smudged make up and pajamas, we said, “that was our last convocation.” And then there was silence.
We finally realized that we really are seniors. And we finally realized what being a senior meant. We now had juniors that looked up to us, the stress of college applications, the excitement of near-freedom, and many other feelings. But we also had a sorrowful feeling. We realized that from here on out, everything and everyday would be a last.

Our conversation continued,
“When we graduate, we technically don’t have to go to school anymore.”
“Can you remember when we didn’t have to go to school? When we were 4?”
“No.”

We realized that pretty much our whole lives were related to school and the feeling that technically we wouldn’t have to go anymore was in a way, scary! Of course all of the high-achieving NCSSM students will continue their educations, but it was still different. From here on out, everything was our choice. We chose which school to go to, what to major in, what to do during the summers, everything!

We then went on trying to cheer ourselves up. After all, we were now SENIORS!!! I hope senior year brings so much more fun and so many more new discoveries. I hope that the happy feelings will out number the nervous feelings. And I also hope, that this year is the longest year ever.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for writing down the speaker's name. For some reason, her advice to follow the pull has stuck with me really strongly. She inspired me in a way nobody else has.

    ReplyDelete

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