We Are Free

Graduating?

Halo and I don't want to do anything for Valentine's Day. We just decided to rent a movie and make a popcorn mix and keep the kids. Zac and Chloe are going to do the same.
    I have final exams the 15th and those determine if I walk across the stage or not. I am very nervous and have been spending every single free moment I have studying.
    I want nothing more than to walk across that stage and make everyone proud. If I don't I go back and redo it all. If that's is the case we are still having a baby. I am sure I will I have had nothing but A's and high B's since I started.
*Valentines Day*
The kids have school but that's okay. We have work to so we don't win either. I have testing tomorrow and will be gone for most of the morning. The results will be mailed to me in two days or the next day at the least.
    I am jumping out of my skin I am so nervous. I have studied until my eyes are raw and my brain can't take it anymore. I still feel like I will fail. I know I will be fine though.
*Later that night*
We are all on the couch/chairs. The kids got a crap load of candy and Valentines cards. We make our popcorn mix and put our movie in. We lay down and get comfy.
     Once we are comfy and ready to go we start the movie. When it is over the kids go to bed. They don't have school tomorrow but I do have my exams. I need a nights rest.
    Halo goes to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I lay a teddy bear, card, and flowers on her pillow. I take my shirt off and she comes out. She sees the things on her pillow. She reads the card.
    "Awwe thanks babe." She hugs me.
    "You are welcome."
    "I love you so much."
     "I love you to."
     "Well I didn't know what to get you so I got you a card."
     "That's fine." She hands it to me and I open it. I give her another hug and we go to bed. I am really scared for tomorrow but I can't let it get to me to much. If I do I am sure to fail. I got this I know I do.
*Next Morning*
I wake up and Halo made me breakfast. I am still nervous but I keep telling myself I got this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. The kids wake up. Emily hands me a necklace.
      "What is this for?" I ask her.
      "It's my good luck charm. Keep it with you and you will pass."  I hug her and set the necklace in the table. When I finish eating I go get dressed. I get ready and looks over my notes one last time.
    I put the necklace in my pocket and leave. The drive took forever and my heart is racing. I have to get my blood pressure down or else I am setting myself up to fail. I stay in the car a couple minutes and breath.
    I take deep breaths and go inside. I go to the room I am suppose to be in and sit down. I turn my phone off and a test booklet is handed to me. Two pencils and an eraser are given to me.
     The instructor stands up in front and tells us the directions. When he tells us to begin it is around 10:30. I have math, language, science, and social studies to do. We started with math thankfully.
*1 hour later*
The math portion is done and we get a 10 minute break. I have nothing to do. I sit at my desk and wait for the science portion to start. When it does he gives us the rules for it and the test starts another half hour later.
*1 hour later*
We get another 10 minute break and then we do social studies. We start that portion.
*1 hour later*
We get our last ten minute break and we have language to do then we are done. I hope I get the results sooner rather then later. I just want to know. We get back in our desks and get ready for the last portion.
    We are given the rules again and I roll me eyes. They are the same for each portion of the the test. Finally he finishes talking and we can start.
*1 hour later*
We are released to go home. I get in the car and feel a sense of relief that it is over. 24-48 hours and I find out if I walk across that stage. I am 99.9% sure I will just because of how well I have done the last 3 years.
    I go home and when I get inside both kids come to me and ask how it was. They jump on me and tackle me with questions I don't know how to answer. I don't even know myself.
*24 hours later*
I am pacing the house waiting for the mail to come. I am really nervous and excited. If I passed I get my cap and gown the 19th and then the 1st and then I graduate.
    I have started a speech and I am ready for this. I go to the mail box half hour after the time the mail comes. I see the letter. I go inside and throw every other letters or thing that was in the mail box on the nearest item.
    I call all of them in and they look at me impatient. I open the letter and read it. I read it until it tells me the results.
       "Jason for passing all of your classes at the highest scores possible with a 4.0 GPA we will see you on March 2nd to get your diploma!" I read.
      "You passed!" Emily yells.
      "I passed!" I yell. They all hug me and Halo kisses me. This is so amazing I passed with a 4.0 GPA.
*March 2nd*
I have my cap and gown. I am so excited. I have my speech and everything. I am wearing some black kaki jeans, a white dress shirt, and a black tie. I put my shoes on and cap and gown.
     The girls and Andrew are dressed up and when we get there I sit on the stage. We wait for it to start and I can't stop smiling. My heart is beating fast because of it and I can't contain my proudness and excitement.
    I have worked hard to get here and now that the day has come I can't believe it. My class is first and thank gosh there is so many people and we can leave once we are done.
    The kids won't sit still long enough so that's what we are going to do. Emily has a smile she is so proud of me and so is Halo and Andrew. I am proud of myself.
    Zac and Chloe were there to in the crowd. They said they wouldn't miss it for the world. The ceremony starts and the guy starts speaking. One by one each person goes up.
    I wait very patiently and want my turn. I can hardly contain the excitement growing inside me. Finally the guy gets to me.
      "Jason Parks please come up." I step up and everyone starts clapping. "Jason graduated at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA." They all start clapping and screaming. He hands me my diploma. "Congratulations young man."
      "Thank you." I step up and pull my speech out. Everyone settles down.
      "I stand before you today but I am not alone. I did this for my sister, brothers, nephews, niece, fiancé, and most of all my mom, who watches over me from heaven. I am here today because of all the unconditional love and support they have given me.
    I dropped out of school in 9th grade to care for my siblings because of some unfortunate events that happened in my family. I never thought I would stand on a stage and get my diploma after the day I left school.
    Here I am though. I didn't do this for myself, I did this for everyone who has been standing behind me. I did it for my mom and I did it for all the people that think just because they are in my situation, they are teen parents, or just have a hard life they can't do this. I did this to show them they can. Thank you." I step down off the stage and everyone claps I get a standing ovation and go to everyone. They all hug me and Zac and Halo were in tears. Halo's mascara was running.
      "Why are two crying?" I ask.
      "I am so proud of you man." Zac says.
      "Me to. You beat the odds." Halo says.  I smile, I guess I did beat the odds after all. It isn't over yet but if I can do this I can do anything.