The End of an Era

It's inevitable. One day, everything that was there before will change. Everyone will one day face a change in their life...in fact, will face many changes. Some will be for the better, others for the worse. It all depends on how you view it (and life). In other words, do you think the glass is..

The Optimist (also called...well, just called The Optimist)

The Pessimist (also called The Realist)

or that the

 The Scientist (also called The Real Realist)

Anyways, the point of today's post is that changes happen. One of the biggest changes in a person's life is the moment they graduate high school. It's as if, suddenly, the person is now an adult with adult responsibilities (though, it's sad to think that responsibilities only magically appear after graduating).

Depending on how you look at it, you could be happy (ready to move onto a new chapter in your life), upset (not ready for everything to change yet and holding on to the past), or resigned (it's going to change regardless of whether I want it to or not, so I better prepare).

As I was preparing for my own graduation, my thoughts were a rollercoaster - swinging one way then the next. First, I was happy that it was finally over. All of the work that I had put in, would be finally paid off. Then, I was upset, I wasn't ready for everything to change. Going to college in a new city (in an actual CITY - even more shocking to a girl who has always lived in the suburbs) was frightening.

However, in those few days between the end of attending classes (yes, I went to every class: I only skipped twice - once for Senior Skip Day and the second time to prepare for prom) and the actual graduation ceremony, I decided to let myself get really sad (and sentimental). For the five days leading up to graduation (with the fifth day as the day of the actual ceremony), I posted one song for my friends and family to see. For each song, I chose a video that included the lyrics.

First, I wanted to remind my underclassmen friends that, though I was leaving and wouldn't see them as often, they should enjoy every moment they had together -- especially my rising-senior friends who only had one more year before they, too, departed our high school.


On the second day, also the last day of classes for seniors, it was my chance to say a final goodbye to my underclassmen friends. This time, I also wanted to remind them that I cherished our time together and that we will meet again!


Next, as the reality began to really set in (no more high school, graduation is real), I reminded myself that I should be looking forward to new experiences, though our parting may be bittersweet.


One day before graduation, I had my graduation party (my family's final send off for me because I'd be at our All-Night Grad Party the night of my actual graduation). On this day, I wanted to sum up the four years. The title says it all, it was the "Time of [MY] Life".


Finally, the day of graduation came and I just had to post The Graduation Song. The guaranteed tear-jerker. The classic. I had been banned from including it in our yearbook's playlist that we used in class as we worked. Yet, it was too quintessential to leave out of my own personal musical graduation countdown.


Looking back, three of the songs were in the "country" genre - not one that I tend to listen to often. Yet, the lyrics just seemed right. The last two were tried-and-true graduation songs that were still were fitting though they've probably been played millions of times. I suppose that I had been trying, consciously, to make myself cry. Crying is therapeutic, you know?

By posting this, I guess I'm finally saying to myself that it's time to move on. I've become resigned to the fact that though I may not want to move on, time was going to pass with or without my consent. I might as well make the most of it and enjoy the time I have before leaving.

Looking to the future,
Little Star