hags, lylas, and bff 4eva

it's quiet at school this week. exams finished last thursday, and students are here today only to receive test scores, clean out their lockers, and return library books. these seniors are ready to move on. their speeches so far have bemoaned the hardships of - for many of them - being at one school for 14 years of their lives. they've found ways to disrespect the administration and clearly state how little they appreciate the sacrifices and decisions made to better them. it's a sad thing. obviously, there are some incredible kids in this class. kids i went to london with two years ago, or traveled with to china this spring, or chaperoned on model united nations conferences. kids walking in the hallway who look up to catch my eyes and say hello, kids who have the maturity to recognize everything that they've been given, kids who make me laugh, and kids who watch out for each other.

but, honestly, i won't miss this graduating class as a whole in the same way i've missed departing classes. my first year here, i cried as i watched some of them cross the stage and manage the flashbulbs and headmaster-handshaking with true hollywood flair. in a year i discovered i had lost hope, they beamed with it.

as i paged through the new yearbook, i immediately fell on pictures of those faces who've caused the most trouble, who've been the most difficult, who've made this year one many teachers will wish to forget. but as i skimmed through, i found my attention being drawn to a handful of kids whose smiles seemed to beam with a hopefulness reminiscent of the class of '03.

obed's portrait in particular caught my eye. he has the kind of smile that exudes calm. in the middle of chaos in senior hallway, obed can be found watching, laughing, enjoying life. and always, always, he will catch my eye to smile and say hello. i appreciate a person - and especially a kid - who will look you in the eye. makes me think that person notices something outside of himself.

his senior profile listed some beautiful quotes, but one jumped out, and i felt a rush of hope come to my heart. "the deepest waters," goes this guatemalan proverb, "make the least noise." i am still smiling. he gets it.

i think i will cry a little when he crosses the stage on thursday to accept his diploma. but quite honestly, i am excited for the world to meet him.

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(speaking of senior quotes, i thought i'd drop in a few more popular ones from this yearbook. enjoy.)

"on a large enough time line, the survival rate for everyone will drop to zero." fight club
"i catnap now and then, but i think while i nap, so it's not a waste of time." martha stewart
"all my life i've wanted to be somebody. but i see now i should have been more specific." jane wagner
"keep on rockin' in the free world." neil young
"i got an idea, an idea so smart my head would explode if i even began to know what i was talking about." peter griffin
"new schedule: 8:15-10, rock history. 10-11, rock appreciation and theory. then band practice for the rest of the day. what about math? no, not important. world cultures? not important. the band is what's important!" mr. shneebly, school of rock

and finally, one of my favorites:
"i want to be all used up when i die." george bernard shaw