Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA’s POV : 

All the senior kids were hung-over.

How could they not? They were all drinking until daylight at Madison’s party.

Everyone except Tiff, Carrie, and I.

We stayed up all night, though, going through this pros and cons list.

The result of the list was still inconclusive, but it had to wait.

It was eight in the morning and my friends and I had somewhere else to be.

By the time I got to school in my cap and gown, I was already on my third cup of coffee.

Dad whipped out his old camcorder and he was following me around everywhere with a proud smile on his face.

Mom couldn't stop crying, she actually brought a roll of toilet paper in her handbag.

I was super jittery and I was sweating buckets as I sat on my chair amongst my fellow classmates.

The ceremony was being held outdoors, in the school courtyard.

The sun was shining so bright and I was feeling lightheaded.

I barely had breakfast, except for half a toast and three cups of black coffee.

And the worst part about this was that I had to get up on stage and deliver a salutatorian speech.

I was pretty sure I looked like a train wreck and make up could only go so far.

With my nervous and shaky legs, I heard my name being called out and I had to walk up that stage and stood on the podium.

On my way up there, all I was hoping for was that I didn’t fall on my butt and embarrass myself in front of hundreds of people.

And phew, at least we got that part down.

Standing on the podium, I looked out to the sea of people.

I was clamping up immediately.

But when I looked at my fellow classmates, I saw Tiff, Carrie, Mark, and Tyler cheering at the top of their lungs for me.

That made me smile and I calmed down a bit.

I took a deep breath and opened the folded up paper in my hand, preparing to speak.

"Welcome friends, family, and teachers.Without all of you, I wouldn't be where I am today.It is an honor to be standing before you on such a memorable occasion.I would like to start out by thanking my wonderful parents, mom for your loud constant push and dad for your silent strong support.Despite all my ups and downs, you two are always proud of me and I am so proud to be your daughter and I want to continue making you proud to be my parents,"

I looked to the crowd and I found my parents sitting on the front seat.

Mom was halfway through her toilet paper roll already and dad could barely hold the camcorder up.Still, he was smiling at me and giving me a thumb up.

"Now, I would like to address my fellow classmates.Let's admit it guys, it's been one hell of a ride.We came through these doors four years ago, confused and excited.And here we are today, standing in our graduation caps and gowns, still as confused and excited,"

I turned to my classmates and they let out a laugh.

"After today, all of us are going to different places to start a new journey.I don't know about you, but I’m absolutely unprepared.My friends and I stayed up all night last night and we came up with this pros and cons list.Basically, I was trying to make an adult decision about where I see my life is going.

adulthood,"

My classmates clapped and cheered in agreement.I waited for a while until the noise died down before continuing.

never will, and that's okay.Life isn't about always being in control, making things perfect, winning all the

darted around the crowd and it landed

lan and

as our eyes met, meanwhile lan just stared at me

as a wise person once taught me, all those things may end up being

said with a small smile directed

hope that we

break the rules, and to take

love.Laugh with

dinner with your

Winston Churchill once said, the greatest lesson in life is to know

you class of 2018, have a wonderful journey ahead,"  I waved my hand goodbye and everyone followed

literally jumping in their

high fives and hugs as I made my way back to my

did

the valedictorian and it was his time

of her boyfriend as Mark

at the back was laughing

2018! We made it all!"he shouted into the microphone as soon as he got up there and everyone responded with

out to Emma, what a great speech.Shout out to all the teachers and faculties, y’all put up with a lot.Shout out to my parents, my family, they're all here.Shout out to my lovely

you

my boys and everyone in the class of 2016, we did it.Yes, you should all be proud of what you've accomplished.We've come so far.If you don't believe me, just think back to freshman year.We were all ugly and awkward people.We were going through puberty and we thought Kanye West was cool.Imagine that, how much things have changed.Now I know I’m supposed to be up here giving everyone a motivational speech about going forward into the future, but

to get tougher after high school.The world is going to discourage us and tell us things that make us doubt ourselves.Don’t give in to that

the row at the back and these guys stood up with

a sign together and it said: FUCKTHEREST! : "Do what you love, and

shock but it was

class

literal mic drop.  We all stood on our feet

to hear and exactly what Mark always wanted

our class president and he was always ‘perfect’, but

We all did.

be the most real versions

finally found a guy that

relationship to the limit and found that she could be more than

years, I had no doubts he would do

mom and dad and we

more pictures with my friends

was hugging everyone, thanking all my teachers and saying goodbye

the back row, I noticed lan and Hailey standing a

were busy talking to Tiff and

me into a hug as I got near

of sunflowers and said, "We got you

beautiful,"I smiled at

"Congratulations,"lan said.

looked

love your speech, it was so

but lan quickly cut her

we get a

right, sure.I'll be in

and waved goodbye to

after Hailey

"So..."I said.

were standing there

from everyone, it was still in

really enjoyed your speech.It was amazing,"he

nervous, I thought

smile, the smile