I Graduated And Became A Tricycle

Graduation was great. 

For many different reasons.

But first, here's the whole story.

To spare you the bore, and me the time, I'm skipping straight to the big buisness.

I was JUST FINE walking down the red carpet. Smiling and pacing myself, I linked arms with Sadie Garret (because there weren't enough guys to go around, and all the speakers walked up together. Hunter was the ONLY guy on the stage), and walked (through the around the back) onto the stage. I stood next to Hunter, and we made the occasional joke or comment, but it was mostly a waiting game. 

And then things went down hill. It was REALLY HOT. On the stage, with the lights beating down on me, my gown weighing me down, I was sweating. Feeling slightly nauseated, it slowly became harder to see the graduates walking into the arena. I tried to shake it off. But as the line of graduates seemed endless and was slowly fading from my vision I admitted to myself and the guy behind me that I really didn't feel well. I needed water, and I needed to sit down ASAP. The guy got me a bottle of water. Splotches of black clouded my vision as I tried to keep standing through for the rest of the graduates. Finally I knew that I could either sit down now under my own power or in a few more moments I would most certainly fall.

So I sat down, placing my head on my knees, trying to pull myself back together. 

And people started to notice. Exhibit A, Mr. Gray.

 Having my head down helped. So when they called for all of us to stand (AGAIN) for the National Anthem, I stood with them. At first. But after only a few moments, I had to sit back down again. I HATED sitting during the National Anthem, but there was no getting around it. (Come to think of it, it was probably a good thing that I wasn't singing the national anthem, as was originally planned)

After that I was escorted off stage. Clinging to the rail, supported by Mrs. Nearn, we went into the hallway. The EMTs were called, I said I needed motrin, water, and air. They said I couldn't have motrin because I mentioned an "interesting" stomach, and they didn't want me puking. 

They pricked my pinky to test my blood sugar (it was normal), did the "arm pressure" thing, and put something on my finger to test temp, I guess. Very thorough. I had gone from hot and sweaty to cold and clammy in a matter of moments. I was asked how much water I'd had the day before. I couldn't remember. So they said I was dehydrated. The water helped, so I went with that diagnosis. The air was MUCH better in the hall, and I was starting to feel much better. Mr. Gray was watching the time, gauging how much longer I had until I had to give my speech. As the senior poem started (right before me), we were sort of rushing. Re-donned the gown, tested my balance, gave me a barf bag, made some small outfit adjustments (everybody felt the need to tell me how I still looked great, and I was beautiful, and it was going to be fine. But I just wanted to give my speech) and back onto the stage I went, just before the end of the senior poem. 

They introduced Stephanie and I as the Salutatorians, and I started my speech. It goes as follows:

"In his book, “Outliers: The Story of Success,” Malcolm Gladwell claimed that the key to world class success in any field is practicing a specific task for 10,000 hours.  This “10,000 hour rule” has been applied to measure success cases from Bill Gates to the Beatles.   Now, if we multiply our 6 hour school day, by our 180 day school year, and compound that number by the twelve years of school that each of us has completed we get (by gross approximation) 12,960 hours.  Congratulations, Bonanza High School Class of 2013: we are world-class students!  As a reward for this masterful achievement, each of us will walk across this stage and receive our hard-earned diplomas. This diploma will open many doors in the future, enabling us to ascend to the next level of learning. Although this day marks the end of our lives as students of the Clark County School District, it does not signify the end of our learning.  Learning is a lifestyle, and based on my earlier calculation, it’s something that we’re already good at.

‘I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn, and we are lead to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return.  I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because of you, my teachers, friends, and classmates.  May we open our eyes and hearts to the learning experiences that surround us.   I’ve always believed that learning is a decision you have to make for yourself, and that you can learn just as much from a good teacher as from a bad one, but it may have nothing to do with the subject.  All you have to do is chose to learn.

Learn from the mistakes and successes of others, and don’t let this day mark the end of our education. And as we look back on these years spent in High school, I’m sure we will be surprised by how much we already know. I hope we can use our status as “world class students” to become lifelong learners and write our own “stories of success.”   

I stumbled a bit more than I had at practice, but not too much, considering the circumstances. 

I was whisked off stage again shortly after that, to call my mom and get me "medically released" (since I am under 18). 

See? Barf Bag and Medical release form.

They kept telling me how well I did, and I believed them because, well, they had been CAREFULLY watching me the whole time. Come to find out that, in my rush, and with all the time spent with my head down, my tassel had moved to the wrong side, and remained there through my speech. I was finally allowed back on stage for the last half of the program, and everything went more or less smoothly or as was planned.

Some people were worried. Some people hadn't noticed. We took pictures. LOTS of them. Alex (a friend AND Melissa's boyfriend) invited me to a graduation party at 5. I said I'd be there. 

First, we went to a big community potluck and graduation celebration at the Montenegroes. 

 It wound down pretty quick, but, our family being as they are, we were among the last to leave. So it was about 6:15 when I finally got to Alex's graduation party.

And it was NOT what I expected. For one thing, Mr. Mar (who is, apparently, the life of the party outside of the classroom) was there and introduced me to his whole family. For another, It lasted until 10:30. There were a lot of adults, and several of them were Bonanza staff. Finally, Alex, Melissa, and I, were the ONLY graduates there. We were the only people our age there. Melissa and I were the only non-adult girls there. And I realized that the only reason I was invited to this otherwise intimate party was because Melissa would be more comfortable if I was there. We chatted. It wasn't too bad. And then I started up a conversation with his mom (also a my former math teacher, I know, small world), and Alex and Melissa got up and left. I didn't think much of it until my ride got there, and I grabbed my stuff to leave.

I walked through the crowded living room, and into the nearly deserted entryway, ready to grab the door. 

Nearly empty, because Alex and Melissa were making out in the middle of the room. I pretended not to notice them, and prayed that they wouldn't notice me as I be-lined for the door. 

And I almost made it. But just as I was shutting the door, Alex called out, "Bye, Alayna!" to which I returned a hurried, "Bye, Guys!" and rushed outside.

And it hit me. 

Oh my gosh.

I'm the third wheel.

I graduated and became a tricycle.