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.

about 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 away scathe free.Sometimes it’s about taking risks, breaking the rules,

landed on a familiar pair sitting

lan

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

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

small

I hope that we

make mistakes, to break

in love.Laugh with your

dinner with your

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

  I waved my hand goodbye and

dad were literally jumping in

high fives and hugs as I made my way back to

made it! I did it! I

after me because he was the valedictorian

proud of her boyfriend as Mark walked

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

made it all!"he shouted into the microphone as

a great speech.Shout out to all the teachers and faculties, y’all put up with a lot.Shout out to my parents,

you too!"Carrie shouted

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

gonna leave you guys with this.If you think high school was rough, life is only going to get tougher after high school.The world is going to discourage us and tell us things that make us

gestured to 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, and that,"he said again and everyone erupted

Finn stood up in shock but it was too late to

 "Congratulations class of

literal mic drop.  We all stood on our feet and cheered

needed to hear and exactly what Mark always wanted to do for himself but he never got a chance to do it until

was always ‘perfect’,

We all did.

the most real versions

year, Tiff had finally found a guy that she was willing to commit

to the limit and found that she could be

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

my mom and dad

with my friends

thanking all my teachers and saying goodbye

got towards the back row, I noticed lan and Hailey standing a wee bit away from

so while my parents were busy talking to Tiff and

pulled me into a hug

also shoved a bouquet of sunflowers and said, "We got you

Hailey.They're beautiful,"I smiled at

"Congratulations,"lan said.

you,"I looked up at

it was so great, especially the

but lan quickly cut her

get a minute, alone?"he said to

sure.I'll be

sheepishly and waved

after Hailey

"So..."I said.

standing there

from everyone, it was still in the school area and

your speech.It was amazing,"he

so nervous, I thought

mega-watt smile, the smile that always