It was a short drive to start a long day
It was a grin even when the world frowned
It was hardships and struggles
It was triumphs and successes
It was everlasting speeches from Lord Baron
It was teasing that made you know you were loved
It was that Hailey Glick hug, because she knows when you need it
It was the Avery McClure anecdote that made you smile
It was bonding over a sleepless night
It was shared knowing glances over the third mug of coffee
It was the shared exhilaration of handing Baron that Extended Essay
It was knowing that we did it, and we did it together.
It was fights and "shut ups" and numerous eye-rolls
It was chuckles and "I love yous" and
Love that felt like home away from home
It was a family.
Other Brain Vomit
I'm really not a poet at all, nor am I very sentimental, but I really wanted to let you all know how much I appreciate the love and support that has been provided to me through the IB program. I truly felt like I had a place where I was always welcome, even when I was hangry or stressed or sad. I knew that someone cared, no matter what. High school is not easy. No matter how many episodes of Degrassi we watch or how much we feel like we've really got it figured out, we're all just trying to figure ourselves out. I guess my advice to anyone who's reading this would be to remember that it isn't just you. You're not the only one who doesn't have it all figured out. You're not the only one who feels insecure or unsure or who's feeling a little ugly. Everyone feels this every once in a while, we're just good at hiding it. Make sure you surround yourself with people who think you're beautiful inside and out, even when you didn't wash your hair after swimming that one day and maybe smell a little like mildew. I wish I had more mental capacity to fathom the love that I feel for you all, so that I could put it in an eloquent, Melanie Berriman-esque, way, but the best way for me to put it is that you guys rock. I can't wait to see you all do amazing things and become doctors and professors and actresses and McDonald's employees of the month. Whatever you do, in the famous words of Mrs. Lauren Genesky; ready, set, go.
Aw, Ashlea...this was absolutely amazing. Your shout out made me smile (: Please know that no matter how far apart we are, there will ALWAYS be a virtual hug with your name on it. I also loved the line "it was knowing that we did it, and we did it together." because that basically sums up my feelings about high school. Despite your personal feelings expressed in your "other brain vomit," I don't think your post needed any "eloquence". It was raw and real and true and very very you and I loved every word of it. I'm really going to miss you next year but I'm really happy I got to know you these past few years and make you not hate me! :P We've had so many great memories and I'll never forget you as long as I shall live <3
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hailey about the line "it was knowing that we did it, and we did it together."
ReplyDeleteI don't think that "the outsiders" (non-IB people) get to experience high school the way we do. They don't have nearly as close-knit of a community as us. You may not be a poet, but what you wrote about and how you wrote it was very true and very heartfelt. I never really knew you that well until this year, and even now most of our conversations are bickering and sarcastic, but I have a good friend in you and I know that we will always have that.
Great post (seriously) and love that you used my "ready, set, go" as a Whitman-esque charge!
ReplyDeleteSee you this afternoon to hold it down in 4B.