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.

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

darted around the crowd and it landed on

lan and

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

once taught me, all those things may end up being the best parts of

a small smile directed atlan.

forward, I hope that we

brave enough to make mistakes, to break the rules, and to take

love.Laugh

with your

of all, as Winston Churchill once said, the greatest lesson in life

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

dad were literally

were giving me high fives and hugs as I made my

did

because he was the valedictorian and it was his time to

darn proud of her boyfriend as Mark

bunch of guys sitting at the back was laughing maniacally, like they knew something fun was about

up class of 2018! We made it all!"he shouted into the microphone

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 girlfriend, Carrie, I

you too!"Carrie

all 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 hey,

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

the row at the back and these guys stood up with painted cardboard

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

stood up in shock but it

 "Congratulations class of

We all stood on our feet and cheered like

wanted to do for himself but he never

was always ‘perfect’, but this year he had grown a

We all did.

be the most real

year, Tiff had finally found a guy that

and found that she could be more than

Tyler...He was so well beyond his years, I had no doubts he would do great

and dad and we took pictures

my friends and

was hugging everyone, thanking all my teachers and saying

row, I noticed lan and Hailey standing a wee bit away from everyone

were looking at me like they wanted to see me, so while my parents were busy talking to

pulled me into a hug as

of sunflowers and said, "We

beautiful,"I smiled at

"Congratulations,"lan said.

you,"I looked up at

your speech, it was so great, especially the

lan

get a

right, sure.I'll be

sheepishly and waved

said after Hailey was out

"So..."I said.

standing

it was still in the school area and a lot of students and teachers

really enjoyed your

I was so nervous, I

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