"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Lemme try this again...ahem...

I graduated from high school yesterday. 

Yea. It just sort of hit me kind of like how this blog is going right now. It went from normal me complaining about the future...then BAM! I graduate in the next blog. 

It was a perfect day. It had just the right amounts of laughter, tears, and bittersweet moments. I gave a speech as valedictorian. Even though public speaking really isn't my thing, and even though I was so nervous, I'm really glad I got to address my classmates like that. I wish only the best things for them, but I'd never been able to express it until yesterday. I've always been the kind of person that even though I have something nice to say I won't say it for fear of speaking up and actually being heard. (it's weird...don't judge) So I got to be all honest about stuff...and mushy feely... :) if that makes sense. 

I didn't cry. For the first half of the ceremony I was so nervous about my speech, then afterwards I was in a state of such relaxation that I was just happy and taking it all in. Our ceremony had this time in which the graduates got to take flowers to their families. "Don't Say Goodbye" by Skillet played and I went over to my family and found my sister bawling. I'm pretty sure that, psychologically speaking, I didn't cry because of her. Seeing her cry broke my heart but the protective side of me kicked in and as always I had to be strong. I teared up during the ending prayer. It was all so real and yet it was like a dream, a blur. 

I've got a lot of growing up to do, I know that. But the journey has begun. I couldn't be more grateful, and I couldn't be happier. 

...and so summer break begins. 

Aloha,

-alexthenerdette