The Graduate

She's 18 with lots of potential and a heart full of dreams. Yet she feels the challenge of responsibility with starting a new life outside of school walls.

I watch the continuous alphabetized slide show of the 2010 Princeton High school graduates that includes my daughter, Sarah Grace Herring. My youngest daughter, Hannah, and I watch with anticipation as the H's go by, and then we hoot, holler, and clap our hearts out when Sarah's off-the-shoulder style graduate picture shows up accompanied by several photos from different times in her childhood, giving just a glimpse of the Sarah Grace I know.

I take a snapshot of the slide when it comes up the next time (we see it four times in a row during the hour we sit to wait for the processional to begin), while my daughter takes video, where we can later hear ourselves hooting and howling our support of Sarah as our graduate.

As the waiting hour progresses, I notice other folks in the audience audibly sharing their support for their own graduates from various places in the room.

The building excitement is palpable.

The ceremony is set to start at 7 p.m. We notice that most of the seats are filled a little past 6:30, a clear picture of why we were encouraged to arrive an hour before the start time so we would at least get a seat. So many were reserved for family and friends when we arrived, I was quite surprised by our rear seat being we got there so early. But later when I saw guests lining up against the walls, I was grateful for my seat!

I look over the multi-paged slick-cover white program guide which lists the highlights of the evening as well as an alphabetical list of the graduates. I plan to hold on to mine as a keepsake of this most momentous occasion.

Seven p.m. rolls around as more guests arrive, some seated in reserved spots while others are in standing-room-only areas. We continue to hoot and holler for Sarah when her pic shows up again for the fourth time.

Then finally, the slideshow stops, leaving a blank, blue screen to admire. Then the screen opens up again to reveal administrative folks making their way onto the platform. Excitement crackles in the air as we prepare to see the evening's itinerary begin.

Mr. Lovelady, principal of Princeton High School, opens the evening as he works his way through his introduction amongst shouts and applause from the audience as he speaks of the success of the 2010 graduates and the much awaited events about to take place.

Then the processional begins. Oh, boy, this is the part I'm waiting for! At the rear of the room enters in alphabetical order (of course) each graduate ready to receive their diploma as they make their way up the aisle created between the two main seating areas on either side of the room. I stand in front of my chair, ready with my camera, my knees a bit shaky with excitement, my daughter Hannah on the other side of my husband who stands next to me on my right. Then I make my way outside the chairs and stand ready to take a snap shot when I see Sarah begin to walk up the aisle.

My pride bursts with my heart's rapidity increasing, my hands shaking, tears springing, as the flash goes off to capture the smile on Sarah's face as she tries to cover her nerves.

There are hoots and hollers and applause throughout the processional as each graduate makes their way to their chairs in the front area of the room reserved just for them.

After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American and Texas flags and the singing of the National Anthem, which I join in to sing, is complete, the itinerary moves forward. The honor roll students are announced and are told to stand in their places when their name is called, as the applause and hoots continue.

We then listen to two speeches, one from a student who plans to major in English and who uses the essay as a metaphor for life in high school. Another uses a strong sense of humor to get his point across, highlighting his experiences of being a student from kindergarten til graduation.

Then it is time for the big moment: the name announced and diploma given in a leather-style book with the graduate then walking through a flower-covered bough where they stop, turn their tassel and have their photo taken to commemorate the significant cross over the high school finish line.

When they get to the G's, Hannah and I make our way up to the front, attempting to get a better view when Sarah's name is called. I manage to squeeze my way in to the front just in time to snap a photo of her under the bough. Hannah takes video from another spot, capturing her walking across the stage.

Then we both head back to our seats as the remaining graduates receive their diplomas and listen for the accompanying hoots and applause from friends and family.

Later the school song is performed by the choir. Then we are dismissed.

We wait expectantly for the crowd to disperse and for Sarah to make her way to us in the seating area where she left her belongings in our care. We heartily embrace as I call her my graduate. She is so excited to finally have made it, to have moved from where she was to where she is now.

And where to go from here? The sky is the limit! There is no telling what wonderful experiences and opportunities will come her way as she moves on to the next step in her journey.

That's what makes a graduation such a spendid occasion. It's the perfect time to dream, to open up the creative portals of the mind and reach for the stars!

And give a hearty congratulations to the deserving graduate for a job well done.

To our daughter, Sarah Grace Herring: may you reach for the stars with your feet on the ground, with dreams and goals afresh in your heart. There is a big world out there just waiting for you to step out and make your dreams come true. Don't be afraid to make your authentic mark, the way only you can do!

© by Dawn Herring