Personal Narrative: Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp And Circumstance

I can hear the orchestra and band playing Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance”. I can hear the chatters of our guests preparing to praise our endeavors. The graduates are in line awaiting to enter the tunnel to take our seats. The anticipation is nerve-wracking. I’ve endured four years of high school education for this very day and finally the staff gives us a cue to enter the tunnel. As we’re walking in, I can feel my palms sweating. I would often talk to the person behind me to distract myself due to being so nervous. The music gets louder and louder as we get closer to the entrance of the stadium. The lights hit me as we finally meet the audiences’ applause as they shout and cheer. The seats start filling and graduation is ready to

begin.

I never took this thing called school seriously. High school was like the mini game to life and I had unlimited lives. Every time I failed I was always given another chance. I accepted failure, I settled for it and just brushed it off. My mind was somewhere else and priorities didn’t exist. I was known as the “slacker,” or “stupid,” by my classmates. It wasn’t true, I just didn’t give things that I thought weren’t important my attention. It bothered me but not enough to change me. They didn’t know what I was capable of, and to be honest neither did I.

Not only was I failing academically, I was also a trouble maker. Because I didn’t have the desire to learn, for some odd reason I would disrupt the learning environment of others, preventing them from doing what I couldn’t. Talking, sleeping, and other not paying attention was my daily routine. Sometimes I would even disrespect my teachers in ways that they didn’t deserve. I found myself skipping school more often than not too. My behavior and attitude towards school was senseless.

Even though I had a negative attitude towards school, I managed to surround myself with people completely opposite of me. My best friends were geniuses to me. They revolved their life around their education. It was important to them because unlike me, they had goals. One friend, Christian Obijuru, was working towards becoming a physical therapist. The other, Elijah Cobb, was studying to be a pilot. Well, he had no other choice. He grew up in a strict house hold and his mom decided his career path for him but he wouldn’t have it any other way. It amazed me how focused they were. I wanted to be successful just as much as they wanted it. The difference between me and them is that they actually worked at it while I was just wishing for it. I respected and admired them, and I wished that somebody would feel that way towards me.

The end of senior year is nearing.

With prom weekend just ending, graduation was the next event to look forward to, and the class of 2015 were ready to check out of Cypress Falls High School. The loss of motivation was common as the end of our high school careers were approaching slower than ever. The feeling of excitement and anticipation were running through every soon to be graduate’s heads except for mine. I felt stress, anxiety, and worried. Why? Well I wasn’t one hundred percent positive that I was going to walk across that stage, which led me to go talk to my counselor. As I walk into the office, Ms. Boutte, my counselor is having a conversation with another counselor. She looked intimidating but spoke very softly. Hearing her voice gave me a sense of comfort. As their conversation comes to an end she states,

“I’m
tired of these seniors coming to me last minute, asking me if they’re going to graduate or not. They need to get it together!” What an awkward moment because I happen to be one of those students, and I happen to come visit her for that exact reason. Ms. Boutte let out a sigh and reassured me that I was eligible to graduate. With that being said, I just made it by high school and a lot of weight was lifted off my shoulders.

The school year finally comes to an end as we’re just days from graduation.

While everybody is ready for graduation, something didn’t feel right to me. I didn’t feel like I had accomplished anything. I wasn’t accepted into any colleges like everyone else, and that’s because I didn’t even apply. I wasn’t prepared for anything, let alone college. I’m not in high school anymore. It was a game to me and I finally ran out of lives. There’s not as many chances outside of high school. I’ve come to the realization that I need to listen to my counselor and get it together and be more like my best friends and work towards a goal until I accomplish it. I needed to change my and realize that my past doesn’t have to determine my future. I wanted to grasp the concept of, “it’s never to late.” I desired to become a better version of myself. I craved to the idea of a positive purpose in life. I wanted to earn the respect and admiration of others. I wanted to be better. At last, my mind is exactly where it’s suppose to be, and I have come to the recognition that all I need it just one more

chance.

And finally, the lights hit me as we finally meet the audiences’ applause as they shout and cheer. The seats start filling and graduation is ready to begin. As we all take our seats, we are welcomed by the the district’s superintendent along with our principles and others. This is the day that we’ve anticipated since the first day of freshman year. When I was told that these past four years would go by this fast, of course I didn’t believe it. Now four years later and it all happened within a blink of an eye. I waited as I heard 196 graduates’ names being called. My time has finally come. My named is called and I meet the stage. There was more to it than just walking across. The stage was my doorway to a new beginning. That’s what I envisioned because this was the opportunity that I had asked for, the chance that I needed. I walked through the doorway as my principle greeted me. She handed me my ticket to travel through the path of success, my diploma. This very moment changed my life. It instilled maturity, ambition, wisdom, and the desire to change for the better. Everything leading up to this moment has been a lesson that I will value for the rest of my life. Now I don’t look at being successful as a dream, I look at it as a destination. That way, it’s not a matter of if I get there, but when.