Life on the big island

graduation

Fast foward to Graduation seven months later:

I wake up to Dakota ringtone playing on my phone. I anwser it and say "Hello?"

"Happy Graduation day sweetheart!"

"Thanks, i will see u later right?"

"I wouldnt miss the ceremony for anything."

"ok well i need to get ready."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I hang up the phone and get in the shower. Once i get out i slide in my knee length tight black dress. I dry my hair and curl it. I put on my makeup on and slide on my black sandals. I put on my graduation gown and pin my cap to my head. I grab my truck keys and wallet. I walk into the living room and see dad dressed up. He comes over and hugs me and starts to cry. I say "If you don't stop crying you will make me cry and that will mess up my makeup."

"I am sorry, i just can't believe that a year ago i was becoming your dad, and then i watched you grow up so much this year, and now to watch you gradaute."

"I know, I love you, i have to go."

We take a quick selfie and then i hop in my new truck dad got me. Its a ford F-150 jacked up. I start driving to the school when i get a call. I anwser it through the buletooth in the truck and say "Hello?"

"Hi, Parker. I am sorry i can't be there today but i love you so much. It kills me not to be there for my little sister."

"Hey WIll, it's ok becuase you are here with me, in my heart and besides i have freedom because of you."

"Are you exited?"

"Yes i am, ready to get it over with."

"Have you practiced the song you are singing?"

"Yes but i am still nervos. I mean i have to give the valdectorian speech and sing."

"You willl do great. I have to go but i love you."

"Love you too."

He hangs up and i frown. I wish he was here with me. I pull up at the school and walk to the football field and find Rebecca my best friend of seven months now. She screams and we take a picture togther. We are all sent into a holding lockeroom till the ceremony starts. I get called to come do sound check and thats when the butterflies appear. I take a deep breath and everything turns out fine. I go back to the holding room and people start to show up. Once everyone is here, we all walk out to our seats. The principal says a few words and then its my turn to sing. He introduces me and i go up to the stage. I grab the mic and take a deep breath. I start with the music as i sing "Hold on to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave (wave) is stringing us along

Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Oo-oo-oo-oo [2x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa. Aa-aa-aa-aaaaaa [4x]

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home

(Come on!)

Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Ao-oo-oo-oo [4x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa. Aa-aa-aa-aaaaaa [4x]"

As i finsh i look into the crowd at all my fellow seniors and they are all crying and everyone is clapping. I bow and walk back to my seat. The staff says some things and then they introduce me as the valedictorian. I walk up there again and start my speech "We stand here today on the precipice of the future. It's not a distant reality anymore. It begins here. It begins today.

We began high school as children, but we're leaving here as adults. We've completed a basic education that will serve as the platform we use to launch ourselves into our futures. Some of us will go on to college, others will go straight into the work force, but each of us will travel our own path.

No matter where we go or what we do, there are challenges ahead of us. What I'm asking from each of you, and from myself, is to meet those challenges straight on with your head held high and your heart wide open. It's not enough to simply try to get by in life. That doesn't move the world forward. You must try to excel in everything you do; strive for excellence in every task, large or small.

Although it may not be easy to see, every accomplishment you achieve is added to the world's accomplishments. Your individual successes benefit society as a whole because when you succeed, you lighten the burden on your fellow man. When you succeed, you are in a position to give rather than take.

Imagine if every individual lived up to his or her own potential. Think about how amazing that would be, and how much better off the world would be. Now imagine if just half of those individuals lived up to their potential. The world would still be an awesome place. If even 1/4 of those individuals worked to make their lives successful, they could still make some amazing contributions to society.

Well, we may not have the power to inspire the entire world to strive for success, but we do have the power to try to achieve it for ourselves. My challenge to each of you, and to myself, is to do all that you can do to reach your full potential. If each of the 561 students in this graduating class is able to do that, just imagine the effect that would have. The future is truly in our hands, so let's make the most of it.To our parents, thank you for supporting us in more ways than it's possible to count. You dragged us out of bed each morning, made sure we were fed and clothed for school. You herded us out the door to the bus stop or drove us to school yourselves. You helped us with homework, paid our class fees, and listened to our complaints. You came to our plays, attended our sporting events, and chaperoned our dances. You commiserated over our daily dramas, but you tried to give us enough space to learn how to work things out for ourselves. These are just a few of the thousands of ways you've supported us on our journey. I would like to say a specail thankyou to my brother, Dad, and boyfriend, and family.I hope i made you proud mom. Class of 2015, lets make history. Congradualtions, we made it.

Thankyou."

Then i walk off stage and then they start calling names to come accept thier diploma. They then say "Parker Chapman." I can heard dad and the rest of the famliy screaming and clapping. I walk to the poduim and shake my principal's hand and grab my diploma. He then says "Hold on Parker." I stand still and next thing i know two hands are grabbing me from behind. I turn around and hug him. I cry and principal carter says "Parker's brother has been serving overseas in the army for seven months now."

Everyone claps and we walk off stage.