By: Jessica McCool
A message for the graduates:
It may be cliché to say, but life is like a book. There are many chapters to each and every one of our books, and, as we all know, chapters end. Some chapters may be long, some may be short. Characters in your story may play a big role, some may play small roles.
Two years ago, I was in the same chapter of my life; the graduation chapter. It was a scary, but exciting time for me. Some of my classmates were so excited to be done, and I was too, but now looking back, I wish I had taken in my last month of high school, and didn’t wish it away. Once you leave Eisenhower, nothing will be the same. If you choose to go to college or a tech school, you may not live with your parents anymore. You may not see your best friends as often as you’d like. If you stay at home and get a job, you won’t see some of your closest pals because they went off to college or they got a big kid job too.
I know it may sound crazy, but you’ll miss your teachers. You’ll miss the guidance, the extra help and advice they give you. They push you to do and be your best. Sometimes, you need the push whether you want to admit it or not. Professors in college don’t make sure you come to class or ask why you weren’t there the previous day (unless it’s a small class and it’s obvious that you were missing, so you better have a good excuse).
The high school section of your book is about to end. Take a good look around at everything about high school. Look at the football field where you’ve spent so much time. Look at the cafeteria where you spent lunch with your favorite people to be around. Say thank you to the faculty and staff who have given their all to you, to ensure that you would make it through high school. This is it, and there’s no going back. You will actually miss Eisenhower. You might not miss it every day, but there will be days that you will think back, smile, maybe cry, and remember all the good times that building and those people brought you.
As you begin your new chapter, remember that it’s okay to change. It’s okay to grow up. You can also change your mind. If you decide to go to college, it is okay to change your major. It is okay to leave college too. You’ll find your way. What I found out to be most important is you have to stop caring about what everyone else thinks and do what YOU want to do with your life, but be smart about it. You may think your dreams are too big, but really, if you put in the effort and time, you will get there. Don’t give up. Congratulations on graduation and good luck with the new chapter of your life!