Graduation!!

A little late...but hey that's just me :)
So a week ago on May 31, 2012 I graduated from Copper Hills High School.
*applause*
It's actually not that big of a deal considering how easy high school is... but nevertheless people make a huge fuss about it so I'm totally down for all the attention :)
Lots of very nice people have sent me cards and money to help get me started. I've decided to spend the money on a laptop for school. It's something every college kid needs and they aren't super expensive. Plus I'll even have a little leftover to buy like half of a textbook! Yay!
So anyway I had to work the night before and it was AWFUL. I didn't get home until eleven because it took me so long to close and I just felt so crappy. I was angry because I knew I'd be tired the next day and it finally hit me that I'm never going back to CH. It was just a really bad night.
Thankfully I slept well and woke up with plenty of time to get ready. I went upstairs and my parents let me open my present from them. They gave me a beautiful set of pearls because they know I love them. I was ecstatic! And they matched my dress perfectly. How did they know ;)

Necklace, bracelet, earrings, and ring :)

And they're REAL!

I went and took pictures with my best friend Elise and that was fun :) I know I couldn't have gotten through the last 9 years of school without her!

Then I went home to see my grandparents, Natalie, and Kolby. We took more pictures and I know you are just DYING to see them ;)

Eventually we drove to the Maverick Center and took SOME MORE PICTURES!
It's okay I had lots of people there to support me... I had to remember the moments ;)

Mom and Dad :)

The boy I spent every minute of every day with.

Jay managed to have all the same classes as me and not even kill me out of annoyance.

He deserves a medal.

:)

The Orchestra President, The Band President

I really like her :)

My cute and rather large family

Kyle's BFF, Uncle Homer :)

The girls lined up and they had the band/speakers/choir/senior class officers go take their pictures first because we were sitting in the front. I went and visited the band and talked to some of my friends for a while. This one flute boy who I thought hated me told me I looked stunning (in my freakin' graduation gown?!) and that he would really miss me next year. Wow. It totally made my day! I love when people are nice to me! I made sure Kristianna had remembered to bring my clarinet and went back to get in line. It was about 500 degrees and I was super thirsty and nervous that I would trip because I had to walk on/off stage four times more than everyone else. Finally they started playing Procession of the Nobles (my fave) (even after playing it every year for 4 years and listening to it a hundred thousand times) and it was time to walk out! I felt like such a boss! And Anna was sitting on stage right where I could smile at her as I was walking to my seat! It was wondrous. Plus I got to sit by Ham. Who I love to death.

We got up and played the banner and some other things. Battle Hymn of the Republic is another one of my most favorite songs and I'm super happy I got to play it at my graduation! We also did For Good from the musical Wicked. I absolutely adore that song. The words in it describe perfectly how I feel about my band friends. My life really has been changed for the better because of them. And they have definitely changed me for good. I love those kids so much and I have been honored to play with them for the past 6 years. We've just been through so much together. I'm gonna miss it so much. In fact, they are having summer band rehearsal RIGHT NOW but I'm not there. And they are doing just fine without me. Hmpf. ):

So uh anyway after that we went back to our seats and listened to Mr. Q talk forEVER. Okay it was only 30 minutes. Bingham's principal talked for 45 minutes according to Jason so count your many blessings. Whatever it was still a long time. FINALLY it was time to get our diplomas and such :) I got to be one of the first people which I was thankful for because people really only pay attention until their kid gets announced so everyone in there got to hear my name ;) Oh man the things I worry about...

Side note story- (I need to write this down anyway so just bear with me)

They had Jaxen's parents walk and receive her diploma for her. That was an emotional time for all of us. I wasn't by any means friends with the girl. In fact, I kind of avoided her because she really wasn't that nice to some of my friends. I figured if she didn't know me she wouldn't have a reason to make fun of me. Anyway the day she died we were having rehearsal and Kristianna was at the dentist. She was coming back to the school after her appointment and came into the school crying. She told me she saw the accident and knew someone was dead. It really shook her up and mostly because if she had left just a minute earlier she would have been part of it. I was very thankful she hadn't. I don't know what I would have done with myself if she hadn't ever come back to school... but since I knew how hard it was on Copper Hills to lose students, I got really upset as well and we just hugged and tried to calm down. Eva came over and talked to us for a minute and then it was time for band.

Well, school the next day was hard. Everyone was super sad, including me. We had our SemCo meeting and I was informed that we were expected to attend the viewing. I. Hate. Viewings. Dead bodies freak me out no matter how much I loved someone. When I went to my grandpa's I had to sleep with Kaylee for 4 years because it just freaks me out so much. It's just this weird thing I have. Anyway I had to fulfill the duties of my calling and Ashley, Megan, Jacob, and I went. We talked to her mother for a while and she was the sweetest lady. I felt so bad that I had never taken the chance to get to know Jaxen. I'm sure she was awesome. She had tons of friends that still really miss her. Anyway the viewing was really hard for me. And I got scared. And I had to sleep with my little sister for a while. Thanks Kaylee...

So long story short, I feel like even though I didn't know her, I feel a part of her because of everything I've been through because she died. And I'm really glad that we could take a minute to honor her at our graduation. She got a standing ovation and I'm not even going to lie to you guys, it made me cry a little.

 So thanks Jaxen, for being such a huge part of my life without even knowing it. I hope you are happy in heaven and I can't wait to actually talk to you one day.

The end. Sorry for the depressing story. Like I said, I had to write it down eventually.

Ham and I cheered when there were only green people getting diplomas because that meant it was almost over! When everyone was seated again Tyler had us move our tassels and yay we were graduated!

 As soon as I got back into the hallway I ripped off that awful robe and went to get my real diploma. I said hi to my band once again and hugged everyone at least 36 times. I got my clarinet back from Anna and went to go find my parents! I felt so bad for the massive mob of children waiting to get their stuff. Yay for being first!

Once I got out to the car we left for Golden Corral and I was one happy camper. I was starving and so excited to see all that food and an empty restaurant! Plus that ultra awkward run-in with CB made the whole day suppppper great. Apparently he kept looking at me while we were eating. Wonder what would have happened if we hadn't been so stupid and refused to ever speak to each other again....

fooooooooooooooood.

So all in all it was a pretty awesome day! I'm very happy I finally have the stress of school gone. I really will miss the good old CH and all my awesome friends. But..

"We cannot discover new oceans without first losing sight of the shore."

Copper Hills Class of 2012

I did it! :)