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A Year Already?

I’ve had a little dry spell with writing as of late. When it comes to these Tumblr posts, the ideas I write about literally come and take about fifteen minutes to write because they’re just tangents after the spark of inspiration, so-to-speak, hits. Well, the fire hasn’t been lighting itself as of recently—until my laptop crashed. I was able to restore my hard drive and then, while sifting through old Microsoft Word documents, I uncovered my graduation speech that I wrote almost a year ago. It’s funny to me now, seeing it in it’s polished state when I know full well how many drafts I wrote to make sure it was perfect. Of course, to everyone who was there (all, what felt like, seven hundred people) it didn’t go off without a hitch as I accidentally cursed at one point in front of an entire gymnatorium (it’s on DVD, too—woo). But still, I remember going through and making draft upon draft, making sure it wasn’t too long or too sappy.

Now, in hindsight, it’s funny to see what a difference a year makes. High school most definitely felt like the end of not necessarily my life, but the end of something I wasn’t ready to part with. But life doesn’t care if you’re prepared to let go. If you’re eighteen you’re going to be thrown off into the deep end called college, ready or not. But what a blessing it really became, to start to figure things out on my own in Nashville. It wasn’t that I was ever unhappy in high school. On the contrary, I would never trade with anyone else for their high school experience. From the field days, to close relationships with teachers, a friend group I’ll be forever thankful for, the dance assemblies, the soccer bus rides and more, I feel so lucky to have gone to the Field School. So it was never that I was unhappy there, despite some hiccups along the way. But I have to say, with college came the realization that I wasn’t aware of how happy I could be.

Now, with the coming of summer and a departure from my new home for a little over three months, I thought it would be kind of fun to post my graduation speech that I gave just eleven months ago on June 10th. It’s funny to think of how, when in the moment of editing and writing this thing over and over, I could never imagine leaving D.C. and being happy anywhere else. But given this is most likely my last summer at home, I decided to post this bad boy just to have it saved into the blog-o-sphere so that when every summer comes around, I can have a healthy reminder of how the people I wrote about meant so much to me then and always will. A lot has changed in the past year, both family and friend relationships for one are different than what they were. New people came into my life, some others left. My way of thinking is different, my way of acting as well. I am constantly thanking in my mind the new people that I’ve met. Thanking them for challenging me in more ways than one that help me to become a fuller person. But high school set my foundation, and the Class of 2011 will forever have a special place in my heart. Time to reunite, S7. 

“I want to first off thank all of my friends and family here today; you all mean the world to me. 

I came to Field six years ago as a shy tomboy who had, in the past, always kept quiet in the classroom. I never wanted to speak up in front of my peers because of a fear that I had had of being judged. But over the course of my time here, as my outward appearance has changed many times, so did my way of thinking, learning and seeing the world. Field’s granted me the opportunity to find who I am, and I will always be grateful to this place for making me find truth in the cliché that it’s okay to be yourself.

To all my friends, there are so many of you who’ve meant something to me. I want to thank Anna Rock, George Mickum, Helen Brown, Nora Greenstein, and Nora Colman. This year wouldn’t have been what it was without you all. We may not find ourselves together on a daily basis after today, but I know we are forever linked together by everything that we’ve experienced at Field.

To Jessica McKinney, five years ago we said how hard it would be when the time would come for us to graduate one day because it was hard enough just saying goodbye for the summer. Standing here today, I now know for certain how hard it is to say goodbye, as I’ve never known someone quite as odd and wonderful as you are.

To Karen Keating, I simply want to thank you for everything you’ve given me as a teacher. The fact that we can fight and bond has hit me more than just a regular student-teacher relationship. Photography isn’t photography without your tangents, sassiness, or you. 

To Alice Bell, I haven’t shared more memories, laughs or connected with anyone quite like you at Field. You mean more to me then you could know. You’re one of my best friends with such a great heart. 

To Becca Gale, we may not be entirely sure where we actually met, but I’m constantly grateful because there are few people in this world who share in so many of the same distorted quirks as me and can laugh at things even when it’s completely inappropriate but so necessary. You’re too wonderful and irreplaceable. 

To my brother, sister and dad: I love you all dearly and you’ve all shaped who I am. To the greatest friend I’ve ever had, my Mom, the hardest part about next year is without a doubt leaving you. I know you’re one person I can always count on, whether it be to watch a cheesy TV show (INSERT ACCIDENTAL S-BOMB HERE) with or to have long talks in your room at any hour. I owe you and Dad the world for all that you have given me.

Field has meant everything to me. All that’s happened in the past six years, happened amongst these blinding white buildings, something that stand as uniquely as the students that go here. I hope that every one of my classmates—those who I’ve talked to everyday and the amazing people that I never got to know—succeed wherever life may take you.  

To the grades to graduate in the years to come, don’t take for granted the fact that Field allows us to cross over social barriers with ease or lets us call teachers by their first names. Appreciate it all, as one day you too will be standing here saying goodbye. 

This year has been my favorite year at Field by far, which makes it that much harder to leave but the best note worth ending on. So thank you Class of 2011, for being all I could’ve ever wanted. I know it’s a lot to ask of to be remembered at Field for the years to come as graduating classes get lost with time, but I can confidently say that I definitely will remember all of you.”