High School No More

I remember when I became a high schooler.  More or less.  Being the precocious homeschooler that I was, I decided I wanted to finish eighth grade early.  So I did.  The day I finished my last eighth grade homework assignment I bounced around the house declaring "I'm a high schooler now" in a loud, sing-song voice to my mom.  I was at a new school in New Jersey sophomore year, and was very keen to have people realize that I was NOT a freshman, but merely new to the school.  I decided I didn't want to be a new student my senior year, and almost didn't even look into Fort Walton Beach High School.  But through a phenomenal series of God-driven circumstances, I have for the last year been taking two classes at FWBHS.  And tonight, I graduated with them.  I may not have graduated "with honors" or worn the fancy summa cum laude stole with the snazzy gold tassel, but what would that really have changed?  I took every opportunity offered to me to be the best I could be, to take the hardest classes and earn the most college credit.  I did my very best in everything, and completed high school (actually all 12 years of grade school) with "all As," in "honors classes" when possible.  I have been accepted to a great college, which I will attend at no cost to me.  I have a guaranteed job in the US Army when I graduate.  My future could not be brighter, my past could not have been done better.  During high school I have spent more than three months overseas in seven different countries.  I flew alone to China and back, went on a mission trip to Ecuador at the age of fourteen without my parents.  I took three AP tests, have earned more than thirty college credits, and will have many of my introductory level classes completed before I arrive at college.  I have moved twice and thus attended high school in three different states.   I have learned when to bow to bureaucracy  and when to refuse to jump through meaningless hoops to check pointless boxes.  I have learned to appreciate friendships and learned how to say goodbye.  I have very few regrets for these past four years, and look to the future with only anticipation.  High school was not the best years of my life, but it has certainly prepared me to meet my best years head-on, whenever they happen to be.  So tonight I farewell grade school.  I look back with no hard feelings, no regrets, and no longings or desires.  I look forward with excitement and anticipation on a future ripe with possibility and opportunity.  Tonight, I am a high school graduate.