I went to a graduation this year, and the Valedictorian did something similar to what happened in this story. This is a mainly fictional account as I had only attended the graduation ceremony Enjoy. =]
High School graduation day is always a day of mixed emotions for those in attendance; the parents feel proud of their children and of the things they accomplished during High School, but also feel somewhat sad, knowing that their children will soon leave the nest and head off to college. For the teachers and faculty, there is a certain sense of pride, in knowing that the students whom you have watched grow up since freshman year are now adults. For the graduates, excitement and nervousness are abundantly found. In one particular graduate, nervousness far outweighed his excitement, to the point in which he found breathing difficult.
Jacen wasn't asthmatic, nor was he out of shape. In fact, he was in excellent shape, and had a large, muscular body that many his age would kill to have. Physically, he was perfectly fine. Mentally, however, his mind was screaming all sorts of things to him, ranging from "KISS HER!!!" to "Shrivel up and die. You'd never have a chance."
Jacen's mind was referring to Erin, the girl sitting next to him. Since the 6th grade, his crush on her had been unending, and those who knew about the crush would often tease him about it. "She's way out of your league, Jace," he would hear from consoling friends, time and time again. And the were right.
Erin was the school knockout, the kind of girl who was beautiful without trying, and she knew it. She wore her dark red hair down and straight today, her fair skin and perfectly trimmed bangs accented her gorgeous green eyes. If anybody could wear the ugly black and orange graduation gown and look good in it, it was her. Her slightly larger than average chest pushed the material in an alluring way, and Jacen felt the need to rebuke himself for glancing at her.
"A girl like Erin will always have a boyfriend," he thought, glancing over at the most current man Erin had deigned to grace. He shook his head and continued listening to the speeches the principal, and the salutorian made. When the Valedictorian was called, Jacen somewhat nervously stood up, took a deep breath to steady himself, and made his way to the podium.
Jacen got up on stage and grabbed his cue cards from the floor, and glanced at the audience. "Hey, everyone" he said into the microphone, grinning his boyish grin as the audience chuckled at the break in formality. He'd practiced this speech multiple times in front of his mirror, and it was memorized from top to bottom. He shuffled his cue cards into place, and began his speech.
"Good afternoon: Board of Trustees, Principal O'Brien, Faculty, Administration, Staff, Family, Friends, and my fellow graduates. It is an honor to address you all today. Wow. We made it. After 12 years of going through the daily grind known as school, we have finished primary education and are preparing to move on with our lives. It's an exciting feeling!
It's a nostalgic, yet slightly melancholy feeling, knowing that this time in our lives is over. That we will never sit in the student section during football games, nor will we ever attend Prom again. It's sort of sad, isn't it?
However, a new chapter in our lives is beginning. While our story has been written for us for the last 18 or so years, we are going to be in control of our own lives from now on. Its kinda scary to think about, but exciting at the same time.
Some of us will attend college to prepare for careers, others will go into trade school to begin their careers, and others will do other things. Obviously." Jacen smiled, allowing his audience time to chortle.
"It is my personal hope that each and every one of us will live our lives the fullest extent with the time we are given." Jacen paused, and took a deep breath, contemplating the ramifications of what he was about to do.
