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.

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

eyes darted around the crowd and it landed on a familiar pair sitting in the

lan

was smiling from ear to ear as our eyes met, meanwhile

a wise person once taught me, all those things may

said with a small smile directed atlan. 

class, going forward, I hope that we would be brave

break the rules, and to take risks,

in love.Laugh with your

with

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

I waved my hand goodbye and everyone followed with claps and

dad were literally jumping in

fives and hugs

made it! I did it!

because he was the valedictorian and it

looked so darn proud of her boyfriend as Mark walked to the podium with swag

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

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

and faculties, y’all put up with a lot.Shout out

you

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

going 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

row at the back and these guys stood

"Do what you love, and

it was too late to do

class

and did the literal mic drop.  We all stood

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

was our class president and he was always

We all did.

we'd rather be the most

year, Tiff had finally found a guy that

her relationship to the limit and found

I had no doubts he

the ceremony was over, I ran to my mom and dad and we took pictures before

took more pictures with my

everyone, thanking all my teachers and saying

noticed lan

at me like they wanted to see me, so while my parents were busy talking to Tiff and Carrie's

pulled me into a hug as I got

shoved a bouquet of sunflowers and

Hailey.They're beautiful,"I smiled

"Congratulations,"lan said.

you,"I looked up

was so great,

rambling, but lan quickly

a minute, alone?"he said

right, sure.I'll be

smiled sheepishly and

said after Hailey

"So..."I said.

were standing there

away from everyone, it was still in the school area and a lot of

really enjoyed your speech.It was

I thought I was gonna

smiled that mega-watt smile, the smile that always made