I DID IT! Today I graduated with my Associate of Arts degree
.The auditorium was dark as my fellow graduates and I entered. "Pomp and Circumstance" was playing, but I could barely hear it over the blood rushing in my ears. Camera flashes sparked in the corner of my eye as we shuffled to our socially distanced seats. We remained standing for the national anthem to play. As I placed my heart over my chest, I felt my heart pounding.
After the opening speech by the President of the college, it was finally time for us to receive our degrees. I swallowed nervously as our names rang throughout the auditorium.
"Please don't trip and fall. Please don't mispronounce my name. Please don't look stupid..." The thoughts kept racing through my mind. Before I knew it, I heard the woman call my name.
"Kailie L. ____, Associate of Arts, summa cum laude."
As I walked across the stage, the President smiled and handed me my degree. "You did very well," he said, giving me a fist bump instead of a handshake.
It wasn't until I was alone in my car, driving to a hibachi grill my parents were taking me to for a celebratory dinner, that relief and happiness came. I was done! Two years of stress, sleep-deprived crying, school throughout the entire year, tutoring sessions, and working my butt off to earn my A.A. while in high school...It was finally over.
Congrats, Class of 2021!🥳🙌🏼
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