Culmination Of Our Last Four Years example essay topic

Wes Bullard Lisa Rasmussen Comp 1113 September 29, 2003 The Culmination It has happened to nearly everyone in America. We face those moments in time when the anticipation of an event is joyful, but the experience is sad. The occasion that evoked these emotions in me was my high school graduation. I felt I had made it; I had reached the pinnacle of my young life, unscathed for the most part.

There were the unavoidable conundrums that every kid is confronted with in high school: What am I going to write my research paper over, who am I going to date this weekend, now that I can finally leave the campus for lunch, where should I go? It is only now that I realize how minuscule those choices really were. The thirty-six months of countless hours of schoolwork, athletic training, and a handful of naps during 4th period History culminated in a split-second montage of what had been the last four years of my life. The pictures flashed, and the thoughts ran rampant. I was about to receive my diploma. The morning of May 30, 2003, started no differently than any other day of the past four years, roll out of bed, and show up at school.

However, after arriving at school, everyone knew that this day would not equal any other. The seniors met in the auditorium at 8: 00 am to practice the commencement ceremonies that were to take place later that evening. We had twelve hours to get it right. Ms. Campbell, our English teacher, made it clear to us that we were not leaving until it was perfect. Our entire class of 48 made their way to the stage of the Archer City High School auditorium. We Bullard 2 initially sat wherever we wanted but were told that all seating was subject to change.

After the long and tedious process of getting the seating just right, came the arduous task of walking in with some sort of uniformity. Though the request sounded simple, it proved to be quite the opposite. We lined up in the hall and proceeded to come into the auditorium when we heard the familiar song, "Pomp and Circumstance". We marched down the aisles, two by two, until all 48 of us were seated. Next, the Salutatorian and the Valedictorian practiced their respective speeches. They were flawless, and a few of my more emotional classmates even shed a tear.

This seemed odd to me considering it wasn't even the real thing. Finally our practice was officially over, and we ventured off to do our own thing until 6: 30. I had invited a few friends over for lunch, a swim, and a few games of eight ball. My mom had cooked a brisket, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and rolls. We devoured lunch in no time and proceeded out to the pool to swim.

It got a little wild in our above ground pool, considering it was filled with eight of the biggest guys on the football team. After splashing a large quantity of water out of the pool, we decided to play a different kind of pool. My buddies got a little discouraged because I never lost at eight ball, so they left around 3 o'clock. I was beginning to get anxious about what would be taking place in just 5 hours. However, my mother was 5 times antsier.

This turned out to be a good thing, since I didn't have to worry about getting the wrinkles out of the gown that was lying in the bottom of my closet or making sure my shirt was ironed. Finally, it was 6: 00 pm and time to get ready. There they were lying neatly on my bed, a pressed shirt and slacks, polished shoes, and my dad's tie. After posing for a Bullard 3 few pictures with my grandparents and uncles, I started my car, cranked up the Linkin Park CD, and was off to the auditorium.

Upon arrival I was told that all 48 seniors were cramming into Ms. Campbell's room for a sneak peek of the Senior Slide Show. We had a good laugh as we watched each other's baby pictures and various other photos flash across the screen. This brought back many memories and produced more tears. Glancing out the window, I noticed family and friends pouring into the auditorium.

It was time. We made our way down to the hall outside the auditorium. The place was packed, standing room only, everyone waiting for the piano player's fingers to strike the first chord. As she started playing, the tears started flowing all around me. Although everyone was crying, I had a big grin on my face; I knew this was it. It's amazing how things come together when they matter most.

All I could see in the auditorium were flashes from cameras and the huge spotlight. The next hour went by in a flash, filling my mind with images that are still vivid today. A few speeches, a class song, and 48 diplomas later, I graduated. With this recently acquired achievement, a new era began, the "real world".

Soon, I would be going to college, paying bills, and having to grow up whether I wanted to or not. This time of change my parents had abstractly prepared me for was now a reality. None of us knew how the culmination of our last four years would be manifested as we left the doors of Archer City High School for the last time..