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.

being prepared is...there’s no such thing.You can never be prepared for life.Life just happens sometimes.The best thing you can do is to admit that you don't have it all together and you may never will, and that's okay.Life isn't about always being in control, making things perfect, winning all the time, and getting

crowd and it landed on a familiar pair sitting in

saw lan and

was smiling from ear to ear as our eyes met, meanwhile lan just stared at me like

those things may end

with a small smile directed

class, going forward, I hope that we would

mistakes, to break the rules, and to take risks, and have

love.Laugh with your

dinner with your

once said, the greatest lesson in life is

wonderful journey ahead,"  I

dad were literally jumping in their

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

it! I did it! I didn’t

was the valedictorian and it was his time

darn proud of her boyfriend as Mark walked

clapped for him, and a bunch of guys sitting at the back

all!"he shouted into the microphone as soon as he got up

with a lot.Shout out to my parents, my family, they're all here.Shout out to my lovely girlfriend, Carrie,

you too!"Carrie shouted

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 hey,

life is only going to get tougher after high school.The world is going to discourage us and

at the back and these guys

and it said: FUCKTHEREST! : "Do what you love, and that,"he said

it was too late to do anything

 "Congratulations class

shouted again and did the literal mic drop.  We all

Mark always wanted to do for himself but he never got a chance

he was always

We all did.

we'd rather be the most real

finally found a guy that

found that she could be more than she thought she

so well beyond his years, I had no doubts he

my mom and dad and we took pictures before mom’s mascara

with my

thanking all my teachers and saying

the back row, I noticed lan

like they wanted to see me, so while my parents were busy talking to Tiff and Carrie's parents, I sneaked away and went

Congratulations!"Hailey pulled me into a hug as I got near

of sunflowers

beautiful,"I smiled

"Congratulations,"lan said.

you,"I looked up at

your speech, it was so great, especially the

started rambling, but lan quickly

we get a minute, alone?"he said

right, sure.I'll be in

smiled sheepishly and waved goodbye to

Hailey

"So..."I said.

were standing

in the school area and a lot

your speech.It was amazing,"he

nervous, I thought I was

brilliant,"he smiled that mega-watt smile, the smile