I recently graduated from middle school, and it was an unforgettable moment for me. I was also lucky enough to attend an in-person graduation since my school allowed it. I know some schools had a virtual graduation instead, so I was extremely excited when I heard the news that my school will have an in-person graduation, because all along, I was expecting to have a virtual one until three weeks before the actual graduation. As soon as I found out, I shared with my friends and family about it immediately and we all started getting ready with excitement: which dress to wear and where to get flowers and balloons. More than anything, my friends and I were just excited to see each other in person after almost over a year.

On graduation day, I woke up at 4am in the morning to wash up and get ready for the ceremony. I was so excited that I woke up without any difficulty. I woke up as soon as my alarm rang and I even woke up my family members. The morning was very busy. My older sister was running around the house to get things ready, and I was also preparing myself for the day. She started putting up the balloons together, which have been prepared for ever since the news about in-person graduation came out, and went immediately into doing my hair and make-up.

Once I got all ready and put on my graduation dress, I suddenly realized that I was really graduating middle school. My three years of middle school were gone and it would never come back. This made me feel what I’ve heard so many people say before, bittersweet. When I heard this term a long ago, I always wondered how it actually felt, and on this day I got to feel it myself. The day literally felt so sweet, yet so bitter. It was weird. I kept on going back and forth feeling bitter and sweet.

We all got in the car and rushed to my school because we were running late. I was one of the last people to arrive, and all of my friends were already gathered in a circle, laughing and talking to each other. I quickly rushed over to them, and it felt like we had met just the day before. We caught up with one another, and I realized that my friends had all grown and became more mature. They all grew at least a centimeter taller, and they didn’t look like how they looked the last time I met them. Each one of them seemed to have a different style and preference, and it was an odd and nice thing to see.

Time flew by so fast. I hadn’t even realized how fast time was going while talking and laughing with my friends and it was already time for the actual graduation to begin. All of the eighth grade students lined up and got ready to walk onto stage. With music in the background, all of us stepped out and walked to our seats that were lined up in front of all the parents’ seats. The ceremony officially started off with my principal’s speech, and soon ended with everyone’s applause. The moment the graduation ended, all that came to my mind was, “I’m done with middle school…”

After graduation, my friends and I decided to hang out at a park. We spent time taking pictures and chatting with each other. During this moment, we were all laughing with sparkles in our eyes. Once we all said our good-byes, I ate a late lunch at a korean barbeque restaurant with my family, and my family congratulated me again for doing the best for three years. I reminisced about all the late nights I spent doing homework, studying for exams, and was very proud of myself. When I went home after a whole day, I opened a letter I wrote to myself three years ago when I graduated from elementary school. A lot of emotions started to rise up when I began to read, and I realized that I grew so much. I changed a lot. I learned a lot. I had become somewhat of a different person.

Today was a special day. I am thankful for so many things, the in-person graduation, friends to enjoy so many things with, finishing my middle school, and after all, having my family aside. When I realized how much my sister had to do, run errands, and take care of things for me to have the best graduation experience, I couldn’t help but feel so grateful for having such a supportive family even during the pandemic. I will look back to this day four years later when I graduate high school and probably have different sentiments, and it only excites me to see what my future high school adventures will bring for me.

<Roanne Jubee Lee/ North Hollywood High School>