Graduation

Well, here we are in the middle of the month of May and the fun that some may have while the Senior classes are studying for their final 'Final' exams and preparing for prom, maybe a senior trip and that one last dance that some schools call a Senior/Dinner dance where the senior class gather somewhere and maybe remember their younger days. I remember my senior year and some of the activities ranged from senior dress-up day to senior slop day to senior skip day and a few other special days like the annual and final Awards assembly when the Senior class passes down a special item of sorts to the incoming Senior class. In between all these days the seniors were sending and getting acceptance or refusal letters from various colleges after filling out college applications and even some still taking college aptitude exams.

To explain some of those days like Senior dress-up day where only the seniors would dress-up in any way they wanted in some form of costume, and if I remember right, I wore a sweat suit like an athlete. I remember a couple that came to school dressed in scrubs and believe it or not the one did become a dentist. Senior slop day was when only seniors could come to school dressed in very sloppy clothes but not dirty and finally senior skip day when seniors did not even bother going to school, but actually I think we were supposed to go and sneak out some way, but as history showed future classes of seniors just stayed home.

Another memory I have and who remembers when it got very close to the last week of Senior year a few students who were usually part of the 'Top Ten' would have to give speeches on such topics as 'Honesty', 'Faith', 'Learning' etc. In general, those four High honor students would have to write one final speech summing up 12 well 13 years of compulsory education in a maybe five-minute speech. Who remembers those speeches really? After those were said and the diplomas were given out and the graduating class was walking out of the auditorium or some walking off the football field if the ceremony was outside actually stayed to say goodbye to friends and whomever after all the years spent together from age five to 18.

For some it was time to head off to college and for some off to the military, and for some off to jobs and careers that did not need further training. Believe it or not I was one that enlisted into the service, but that did not work out and had to find another way. Being honest I got a slow start for I became a in my words a 'freelancer' that started out mowing yards and gathering five permanent customers that I kept for almost 20 years while at the same babysitting during the summers and attending classes at a local business school even though the field I studied and when I graduated were a 'dime a dozen' and positions were hard to get.

Furthermore, anyway a few years later I did go to college and studied education and again with my luck when I graduated there was a 'teachers' glut' and I was only hired as a substitute and hoping to get a full-time position. That never happened for then I started writing as well as attending a Nurse assistant course and working for a nursing facility and then becoming a licensed practical nurse for 17 years as well as an activity therapist and earning my various advanced degrees and now a freelance writer.

Sorry for the life story once again, but this is what this annual graduation season makes me think. To all graduating seniors whether high school or college Good Luck to you all!