293A — To days of inspiration, playing hooky, making something out of nothing...
It's the end of an era.
Today was a good day. I got to sleep in a little bit, and after a breakfast of cheesecake and some housing scheming with a certain friend I took my instrument and headed to the Civic Center. The first item on the agenda was running the song we were playing with the choir a few times for sound balance, before we headed to the room where we would be waiting before the ceremony.
After some shenanigans and a whole lot of time it was eventually time to leave the room and shuffle single-file all the way to the actual room of graduation. We waited for a while in the halls, as the band worked through of some of its repertoire, but eventually we heard Pomp and Circumstance begin and I felt a little swell in my chest as we entered. With a seat in the very front-right corner, I waited for quite a while for everyone else to shuffle in, and then the national anthem played, before we were finally allowed to sit down. One speaker came and went, and then another, and then the orchestra played, and then one final speaker went before we began the ceremony proper.
The ceremony proper was kind of boring to be completely honest, and much less sad or emotional than I expected it to be. This was especially true given that I was second-to-last, and thus had to sit through what felt like countless individuals. Eventually my name was called, I walked up, got my diploma, shook quite a few hands, and got my picture taken as the music began to play. I grabbed my instrument, and then braved the massive traffic jam of crowds on the arena floor multiple times to get photos with a variety of people, before I eventually went home.
At home, I took a little break (including ramen) before writing a few cards and then heading out to another future MIT student's grad party. I knew no one there, so I kind of just waited to talk to him, and then dipped as soon as that was over, heading to the next party via a gas station. At the next party, I managed to stay for quite a while, as all sorts of old friends and teachers were there (and the food was good), and plenty of socializing was done before I eventually had to head to one final party, which lasted just about as long for just about the same reasons. I went home after that, submitted my MIT housing lottery application, finished up my school year reflection (published and pinned today), and now I'm writing this!
To be honest, I don't feel too relieved to be out of high school—the anxiety continues, but it is just detached. Nor do I feel sad about all the friends I will be missing—perhaps part of it is the detachment following RSI, but another is just that I've been here for so long that it is perhaps time to move on. I say this as one that finds it hard not to fixate on things, but here we are. The next chapter is about to begin, but for now perhaps it is better to let the character rest for a bit before it does.
Tomorrow, cleaning and packing. Plenty of other things to do as well, but I'll figure it out as I go. After all, it is now summer, and there is nothing I need to officially do for the next few weeks. No need to stress too much quite yet.
Today was a good day. I got to sleep in a little bit, and after a breakfast of cheesecake and some housing scheming with a certain friend I took my instrument and headed to the Civic Center. The first item on the agenda was running the song we were playing with the choir a few times for sound balance, before we headed to the room where we would be waiting before the ceremony.
After some shenanigans and a whole lot of time it was eventually time to leave the room and shuffle single-file all the way to the actual room of graduation. We waited for a while in the halls, as the band worked through of some of its repertoire, but eventually we heard Pomp and Circumstance begin and I felt a little swell in my chest as we entered. With a seat in the very front-right corner, I waited for quite a while for everyone else to shuffle in, and then the national anthem played, before we were finally allowed to sit down. One speaker came and went, and then another, and then the orchestra played, and then one final speaker went before we began the ceremony proper.
The ceremony proper was kind of boring to be completely honest, and much less sad or emotional than I expected it to be. This was especially true given that I was second-to-last, and thus had to sit through what felt like countless individuals. Eventually my name was called, I walked up, got my diploma, shook quite a few hands, and got my picture taken as the music began to play. I grabbed my instrument, and then braved the massive traffic jam of crowds on the arena floor multiple times to get photos with a variety of people, before I eventually went home.
At home, I took a little break (including ramen) before writing a few cards and then heading out to another future MIT student's grad party. I knew no one there, so I kind of just waited to talk to him, and then dipped as soon as that was over, heading to the next party via a gas station. At the next party, I managed to stay for quite a while, as all sorts of old friends and teachers were there (and the food was good), and plenty of socializing was done before I eventually had to head to one final party, which lasted just about as long for just about the same reasons. I went home after that, submitted my MIT housing lottery application, finished up my school year reflection (published and pinned today), and now I'm writing this!
To be honest, I don't feel too relieved to be out of high school—the anxiety continues, but it is just detached. Nor do I feel sad about all the friends I will be missing—perhaps part of it is the detachment following RSI, but another is just that I've been here for so long that it is perhaps time to move on. I say this as one that finds it hard not to fixate on things, but here we are. The next chapter is about to begin, but for now perhaps it is better to let the character rest for a bit before it does.
Tomorrow, cleaning and packing. Plenty of other things to do as well, but I'll figure it out as I go. After all, it is now summer, and there is nothing I need to officially do for the next few weeks. No need to stress too much quite yet.
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