So all Wednesday, the day of the grad ceremony, I was in a crappy mood, as you probably could tell from my entry that day. I just really did not want to go to the ceremony. I didn't really want to go in grade eight either, and I don't remember about grade five, but I just really did not want to go. I'm not sure exactly why. But I didn't want to go. Period.
But I went. I knew there was no use in asking my parents if I could just stay home. I knew they wouldn't let me. So I just didn't talk about it.
Anyway, we went. I was planning on wearing running shoes, but Alison called me a little before six (because I hadn't been at the rehearsal) and said I wasn't supposed to. Damn. I mean, I knew all along I wasn't supposed to wear running shoes, but unless someone told me specifically, in my mind, it was okay.
I happened to watch "The Wonder Years" a little before going, and it happened to be the episode where Winnie was moving away and Karen was graduation. She had on these boots and her parents were throwing a fit and she was like "it's a STATEMENT!" which I decided would be my excuse.
But in the end, I ended up wearing my "nice shoes". Of course.
So, I'm there. I hung out with Jada and Heather and Kristen in the front foyer. After awhile, we went to the music/art hall where the gowns were. Another student made a comment to me that they didn't think I should be wearing jeans and that they might not let me go across the stage. "Ohh… what a shame…" I thought.
Then we waited in line for a nice long time. And it was hot. And the teachers kept coming by and making sure our collars were right, and our hats were the right way, and this and that, and every little detail, and uggggh!
We walked into the auditorium in two little lines. I felt like I was in "The Aviator", when Leo and his date were walking into a premiere or something and everyone was flashing the cameras at them and he starts going Tommy.
So, as I was walking down the aisle, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. As I've said, I skipped the rehearsal for my tour at Brock University. I figured I'd be okay just following the people in front of me, and I was.
It was pretty lame. Sitting around, watching people talk. The principal made a remark about the school's production of "Joseph and the Techni-color Dreamcoat" and said that he "thought he'd taken a wrong turn onto Broadway", but I thought he was going to say "another school". Ha ha. Either one would work, I guess.
So, lame lame. Listening, watching people get awards. I glared a little as a girl in my English class accepted the award, when we'd both tied for highest mark. Man, how crazy would that be? Me getting the English award? Boy oh boy. I probably do get a certificate or something for it though.
Then I found that I got the French award, so that was cool. I don't remember, did I get it in grade eight? I know I did in grade five. Oh, no no, I didn't in grade eight, as my helpful blog archives tell me. Anyway, French, not a big deal to me, because it's just come so easily lately. And I mean, my background is French, so that might have something to do with it.
I've always known my name was going to be either "Jennifer Leigh" or "Amy Anne", but my mom recently told me it would have been Amy as in "Aimee". Which I mean, cool, because I think I'd like the different spelling. But then because my first name and last name are so obviously French, everyone would think I was from Quebec and they'd hate me. :P
Anyhoo, I was standing on the stage with my old French teacher and waiting for my parents to take the picture, and she'd mentioned I'd been nominated for two other awards, which I guess would have been English and, well, I don't know about the other one. Maybe the technology one? The kid in my math class won that one, and from what they were talking about, it seemed more like "tech" like "shop" rather than "computers", in which case, not me. She also mentioned she'd heard I was coming back next year and asked if I was studying languages.
She heard I was coming back. Isn't that creepy? HEARD. That means people (most likely teachers?) were talking about me, and that is just weird.
Then more subject awards, la-de-dah. Then special awards. La-de-dah. My computer teacher was presenting the "IBM award", and for a minute, I thought it could be me. But I mean, I only took Computer Engineering this year, and there are other kids in my class who could actually get their remote control cars to work (well, I think). And who actually knew what to do with the cables during the exam. But not me. So I sat back and watched.
But what? Me? Really? Suh-weet! So I went up and stood in the middle of the stage as my teacher did the little blurb about me and why I got the award. They must've looked at my grade 11 marks, because as I said, I only took Engineering. I think she said something about how my combined average for computer classes was over 95%, which I was like, hey cool, I didn't ever think about that.
And there were the girls (girl?) who won the math awards and science awards with 99% and 100%, and everyone gasp when they hear their final mark. I'm not completely sure, but I thought I heard a bit of that for me. Which was super cool. Or maybe I just imagined it. Nevertheless, it was awesome. Especially me being a girl and all? Winning the computer award? Hell yeah!
I did feel like a bit of an idiot though, standing up there so long, because my parents never took the camera down from their face, so I didn't know when they were done or not. So I'm standing there with my teacher kind of awkwardly like "okay, let's go…" and my teacher even says to me "well, they can get it later too". So after about twenty minutes I was like, "okay, whatever, thanks".
Now, I didn't get a little plaque for the IBM award, I got an envelope. I didn't want to open it back at my seat, 'cause I mean, that would be rude. But it was sitting there beside me, you know, just wanting to be opened. After the rest of the awards they let us get up to stretch, so I tried to find my parents to give them my stuff, because I didn't want to be carrying it or leaving it at my seat when I went to get the diploma. So I opened it back at their seat and it said "pick up your cheque in the office next week". Suh-weet! Like, it didn't say how much or anything, but I said to my parents "I hope it's a big cheque!" and they're like "yeah, me too!" and I'm like "no, no, like those BIG cheques!". Ha ha.
So after that, I wasn't feeling so sour about the whole occasion. So like me.
Then we all went across the stage to get our diplomas. We were supposed to have a card with our names on it and something for them to say about us as we walked on the stage. I couldn't think of anything to say (or rather, didn't want to, as this was before the ceremony), so mine was just my name. The teacher who we hand the cards to and who would read our card asked me "is that all?" when he saw the card. Y'see, everyone else who went before me had something on their card. And my friends did tell me you didn't have to write anything. Anyway, I said "yes", and then after a second, he asked what I was doing next year, and I said I was coming back. I didn't hear exactly what he said, but I guess he said I was returning next year.
I went to get my diploma from the vice-principal but then she said "no no" as I tried to take the diploma with the wrong hand. Pfft, what-ever. "Sorry" I said, like an obedient little idiot and took the diploma and shook. And then she told me to flip the rope thingy to the other side, which I was planning on conveniently forgetting to do, but, now that she specifically told me, I couldn't. So I did, and I probably looked stupid. Then I stood for a long time again as my brother was taking pictures, and as he later told me, yelled something about "you're a tiger!".
The people who read your card are behind the curtain, so they don't see what's going on on the stage. Soo, they started reading the next card, which happened to be my friend's card, and I'm sure she started walking on stage while I was still standing there and my brother was still yelling at me. So then I hurried off, down the wrong stairs and passed in front of the snap happy camera toting parents to my seat. And then sat and clapped politely.
I don't know whether I'm lucky or not, to have been closer to the beginning of the alphabet. When I went on, people were still clapping politely, but after awhile, they get sick of it, and only the parents of whoever is up there is clapping. So it was a long long time to go.
Then I guess came more speeches and a bunch of really special awards, which all went to two girls. The valedictorian is a girl I'm kind of friends with, but she hasn't been in any of my classes, so I haven't seen her for quite awhile. She's a super smart and nice girl, but I know a lot of people don't like that she wins so many awards. And when they did have her stand up there for so long for all the awards, I did think she should've split them up a little, so it wouldn't be so obvious, you know? But I mean, she deserved them. She works hard, and I'm pretty sure she does a lot of other non-school related things as well. I don't know how she does it. But she does it well.
Anyway, she did her valedictorian speech, which went on a bit too long. She mentioned a lot of things, world issues and stuff. She also mentioned the World Health Organization, which made me glare and scowl. It's involuntary, I can't help it anymore.
So, I guess that was about it. I hung out for a minute or two and took pictures with friends, but left pretty soon. Turns out after I'd gotten my diploma, my dad went out to Fortino's and bought a cake because he was so proud. Aww. So we had cake when we got home, which was nice.
And I guess that's about all for the graduation ceremony. I shall have to save my adventures on "prom night" for another day, for this entry is much too long.