12 Days Until Christmas✔️

1 Day Until Christmas

Graduation day, the day everyone looks forward to as soon as they enter the gates of high school. It is finally here and I am more than excited. After 5 years of suffering in all those dreaded classrooms and the countless homework assignments, it is all coming to an end. I am moving on with my life and after today, this building will be nothing but a memory to me and everyone graduating alongside me.

In one hand I hold my cup of morning coffee and in the other is my speech that is nothing short of legendary. It may have taken hours to write it but I couldn't be more proud of the words that I was currently going over.

At the kitchen table I am joined by all my friends while my parents and Kate are busy getting ready for the ceremony that will start in an hour's time. Noah is busy making pancakes while Nora and Daniel hungrily devour them as soon as they touch the plate. Even though the pancakes look absolutely delicious, I know I wouldn't be able to stomach them as I feel the nerves start to kick in.

To be honest I am extremely nervous. Nervous to get up on stage in front of hundreds of people, nervous to slip up, nervous to be leaving the place they I basically grew up at and going somewhere completely unfamiliar. But I push that all away and focus on living in the moment, the exciting moment of growing up into an adult that I was gratefully sharing with my incredible friends.

"Okay guys, are you all ready to go?" my dad asks as he emerges from around the corner with my mom and Kate trailing behind him.

"Wait!" my mom shrieks, "We still have to take photos."

A chorus of groans echo around the room, coming from everyone besides my mom who smiles at each one of us expectantly, holding her camera in her hand.

Slowly, all of us drag ourselves to the lounge to take pictures as my mom requested but as I look at each of my friends, I realise that I'm not wearing my black gown over my clothes as they all are. Quickly, I shout for them to wait one moment for me to get my gown from upstairs before I dash up the stairs.

As I walk into my room, I immediately locate my gown hanging on my closet door handle but this time there's an unmissable change on it in the form of a red card. Without hesitation, I grab the card to read what it says on the inside.

Juliet,

I'm offered to the loved, and also the dead. I come in many varied hues but mostly red. My pricks are known to pierce the skin, often resulting in wounds that bled.

Your secret admirer.

I was more than thankful that this time the clue wasn't as hard to figure out. It was definitely a rose. I smiled at myself for figuring that out all by myself but it fell all too soon when I realised that this could be the last riddle that I would have to figure out. Even though I knew I would miss them, I was more excited to find out who my secret admirer would be tomorrow.

When I heard my name being called from downstairs, I quickly put the note in my pocket where my speech was being kept and put on my graduation gown before rushing downstairs.

My friends were already positioned in front of the fireplace so I gracefully slipped in between Noah and Nora, who was placed in front of Daniel.

"Okay, smiles everyone." My mom crooned. We all smiled as the flash went off. Apparently, one wasn't enough, so after about 20 photos we were ready to hit the road.

As we drove through the school gates, the parking lot was overflowing with cars and after a few minutes we managed to find a spot, though far from the building. The four of us walked together, arms hooked and ready to finally graduate, together.

The senior class were all lined up in alphabetical order as we arrived backstage and we immediately separated to stand in our assigned spots, awaiting the start of the ceremony. When the Principal steps up onto podium, everyone stands as we all sang the school anthem for the last time. After a long introduction speech, the names of the graduates are being called out. My hands are shaking and I'm trembling slightly from the nerves.

Daniel is the first of us to be called up on stage and he receives his diploma with an excited grin and a whoop, attaining a chuckle from the audience. I receive mine next and put so much of my concentration into preventing myself from falling face first onto the hard wood that I almost don't hear my family shouting my name. As I descend from the podium I exhale a breathe I had been keeping in and make my way to my seat with a huge grin.

The handing out of diplomas was over in a flash and soon it was the moment that had been the cause of my nerves; it was time for my speech. Sure, I had spent most of the night going over my speech, fixing imperfections and drinking my weight in coffee, but that didn't stop me from shaking like a leaf at the thought of over 1000 people listening to my speech.

With shaky legs, I ascend the staircase towards the podium with my speech clutched firmly between my sweaty fingers. As my eyes scan over the audience, I catch sight of my friends, waving and giving me a thumb's up, bringing a smile to my face and soothing my nerves.

"Good afternoon Parents, teachers and my fellow pupils,

Today is the day that most of us students have been looking forward to since the day we walked through these gates for the first time but truthfully, we wouldn't take back being here for anything in the world because this is the place where we've made countless memories, gained new friendships and have developed into mature, young adults. This is the place that we have all called home for the past 5 years and the school that we are proud to say we belonged to.

Many of you might be afraid of the daunting world that awaits, but with the help of our teachers, we can be confident in all that they have taught us. The only way to do well at something is to love what you do. Don't settle for anything less than what you're passionate about. If you don't achieve your dreams that does not make you a loser, but likewise, if achieve your dreams it does not make you a winner. It's all about being the best that you are able to be, constantly, every day. You just have to keep moving forward as long as you are doing something and seizing every opportunity set in front of you.

It will be a little messy but embrace the mess. You may have troubles along the way but flourish from overcoming those obstacles. Be the hero or heroine of your own story. I believe that all of you have the potential to do amazing things one day and will make great successes of yourselves. As Steve Blank said, "The world is run by those who show up, not those who wait to be asked.''

Good luck to you all for the upcoming years and just remember that failure is life trying to move us in another direction.

Thank you all."

As soon as I had concluded my speech I was praised with applause and hollers from the audience. With a parting girl, I descended the stairs towards my seat. On my way there I received many compliments on my speech and numerous hugs from my peers. When I reached my family and friends I was showered with a bouquet of roses and many "congratulations" and "I'm so proud of you"'s

But those were nothing compared to the embrace I received from Noah as he practically lifted my off of the ground, kissed my cheek and whispered, "You were amazing up there."

^^^^^^

I was more that relieved when I finally removed my graduation gown and felt the cool breeze drift through my bedroom window. I laid my gown next to the bouquet of roses of mine that would surely die in the heat of the summer's day, so I grab them and saunter downstairs. After looking through every cupboard, I manage to find the right sized vase, fill it with water and place the vibrant arrangement of roses into it.

As my fingers run over the petals I notice a glimpse of white and reach out to remove a folded white piece of paper. Unfolded it reads,

"Juliet, my beautiful rose, tomorrow's the day and I'm as nervous as I am thrilled. Enjoy your day and try to get some sleep tonight (because I know I won't get any)"