Graduation

Hello there! ⍟

On Sunday, May 24^th I graduated from City High. This is my beautifully detailed story about it. Enjoy!

We're all in this together, once we know, that we are, we're all stars, and we see that! We're all in this together, and it shows, when we stand, hand in hand, make our dreams come true~

Graduation, the High School Musical experience #1. Or at least I thought it was going to be... Unfortunately fate doesn't like me as much.

Honestly, I was looking forward to graduation so much, even more than Prom and all the other American school activities because it's so unique, with the cap and gown, throwing your cap in the air and celebrating your school spirit.

School had already ended and me and Eleonora were enjoying our no school time by spending pretty much every day together, including sleepovers. So the night before graduation I was also sleeping over at her house. And I don't know whether it was the pizza we ate or the fact that she didn't have screens on her windows which didn't allow us to open them and made the air stuffy and grossly warm, but whatever it was, I was getting sick. Really, really sick. I felt queasy in my stomach and dizzy in my head when we were going to bed, and in the middle of the night I was throwing up. And the rest of the night I was throwing up. And in the morning I was throwing up. I mean, I didn't even have anything in my stomach anymore but I was still throwing up, which believe me, is not pleasant at all. So when it was time to go, I was laying on the bed, not even able to stand up. Every normal person would've been smart about it, giving the body the rest it needs. And if it was any other day, any other event, I would have. But of course the determined, stubborn me just really insisted on going to graduation, the one time American experience ever. So I drank a lot of water and Eleonora helped me getting ready so that at least there wasn't any vomit on me anymore, then we went. I thought I was doing okay, at least as much as I could. We arrived at Carver Hawkeye and the ceremony began.

There was a lot of standing and waiting and a lot of speeches and appreciations before the students finally received their diplomas. Row after row stood up and walked across the stage, shook Principle Mr. Bacon's hand, smiled for the photo and then sat down again.

I was struggling the whole time and when my row stood up I was getting super dizzy again. Just before it was my turn to go on the stage I felt all the water coming up. Anyway, I know this is already more detail than you wanted so let me summarize this whole thing. I sort of made it across the stage and received my fake diploma (it was just a certificate of attendance) and smiled for the photo. After that I was pretty much dying. I walked behind the stage and had a lot of people help me to leave. Then I went home and lay in the bed the next three days. I couldn't move, couldn't eat, couldn't do anything.

And while everyone took tons of amazing graduation photos for instagram I pretty much missed that part completely.

Here are the only two pictures I have from the actual graduation. I don't know if you can see the pain in my face, but I definitely can.

Later on me and Eleonora took some more pictures when I was feeling better.

And that's pretty much it! But at least I can say I made it through an American graduation right? And also I feel like it made me even closer to Eleonora and my host mom Kris, who both helped me out so unbelievably much and cared for me when I was so sick. I'm forever thankful for both of them.

Stay tuned!

Bye ⍟