A Funny Thing Happened During Graduation...

Finally! It's graduation day!

The students of the class of 2019 were all in the auditorium, as were me and Hera! And as we were standing there, pretty damn proud of what we had accomplished, everyone in the stands, including my own family, were cheering on us. They all were proud of us for what we had just done: we had made it through Senior year!

And it was NOT a traditional ceremony by any means, either.

The song that was playing was "Endless Possibilities" from the video game Sonic Unleashed (or Sonic World Adventure for the Easterners), performed by Jaret Reddick of the band Bowling for Soup.

And when the music ended, the ruckus died down, and we were all allowed to be seated.

"Good evening Salt Lake City! I'm Julie O'Hara, the principal of D. W. Bell High School," Principal O'Hara began. "It is my pleasure to welcome you to this evening's commencement program for the Class of 2019. We are gathered here tonight in a formal ceremony to celebrate this significant milestone in the lives of these young men and women. At this time, would you please stand or remain standing and join the D. W. Bell Chambers Choir as we pay our respects to our flag and country and honor America with the singing of our National Anthem."

After all that was done, she continued: "We are privileged to have a Board of School Directors who are dedicated to provide D. W. Bell students with outstanding curricular as well as extracurricular opportunities. Will our School Board members who are present on the stage this evening please stand and be recognized."

And all the board members stood up and were greeted with a thunderous roar of applause from all of us in the auditorium.

"I would like to introduce Mr. James O'Connor, the president of the Salt Lake City Board of School Directors, so he can address the class of 2019."

And the board's president, a beefy and seemingly muscular dude, stepped up to the podium to deliver his remarks.

"I would like to welcome you here today to celebrate the graduation of the Hempfield High School class of 2019," President O'Connor began. "Class of 2019, congratulations on reaching this milestone in your life. I sincerely hope that this commencement ceremony will be one of your fond memories as you move on in life. You have spent your entire life, up to this point, learning and growing. This process of growth and learning has brought you here tonight, ready to go out into the world.

"Most of you have already made your decision on what you will do to further learn and grow," he continued. "Many will continue their education at various institutions of higher learning, others have chosen to enter the workforce, some will take different paths based on their passions, interests and desires and some have chosen to enter into military service. For all those in the audience who have, or are, or will be serving, let me thank you for your Past – Present – and Future – service.

In all probability you will take diverse paths to get where you want to be in the future, but what does that future hold for you? I believe that your future will only be limited by your imagination and the desire and drive to make the world a better place. The futurists, when I was your age, were predicting things that, at the time, seemed impossible. Yet here we are today with many of those predictions a reality.

"This last item deals with your unselfish efforts to give back to your community. Your actions are outstanding and a role model for others. Continue that into the future wherever you eventually settle. Over the last few years I have had the privilege of presenting students with their diplomas. As I presented them with their diplomas I was struck by the spark in their eyes as they looked forward to the future. It is a wonderful thing to see that spark and the hope for the future that I am sure is behind that spark. And so I ask you, the class of 2019, to NEVER let anyone or anything extinguish that spark or hope. I ask this of you BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR FUTURE! So on behalf of the School Board, I want to wish all of you the best of everything as you continue to learn and grow, and hope that we read about your outstanding accomplishments in future years. THANK YOU."

"Thank you for those words, Mr. O'Connell," Mrs. O'Hara said. "And now, Class of 2019, we are proud of the academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments your class has had over your careers in the Salt Lake School District. I know that some of the life lessons you have learned were not easy. Along with the cheering and laughter, there were times of uncertainty, fear, and tears. You are now moments away from completing your last high school task. You are about to receive your diploma. You are now ready to move on to new adventures and challenges. As we part ways, I want you to know, it has been an honor to be part of your life!"

Damn straight, Mrs. O'Hara!

"We have appreciated your support through the last 13 years. Education is truly a partnership and without you, your sons and daughters would not be where they are today. You certainly have helped lay a solid foundation for the Bell High School's class of 2019. Thank you."

Another roar of applause. Then...

"Before I present the graduating class, may I remind the audience that this is a momentous occasion?" Mrs. O'Hara reminded. "These students have worked for 13 years to reach this academic accomplishment. Many parents have waited 18 years to hear the name of their son or daughter presented for graduation. Hearing their name is very important, and letting your student know how proud you are of them should take place before and after our ceremony, not in the middle of it.

"Parents will only hear the name they've waited 18 years to hear if you hold your applause and comments until all names have been read and the entire class has been recognized," she continued. "Please understand that noise makers will not be tolerated and will be removed – your cooperation will be greatly appreciated by everyone – especially the parents of our graduates – as we prepare to bestow diplomas upon the Class of 2019."

All the guests of the ceremony roared in applause again. And as soon as everything quieted down again, Mrs. O'Hara turned to the board members and continued:

"Mrs. McKennall and Mr. O'Connell! It is my pleasure and honor to present to you the graduating Class of 2019. I hereby certify that these students have completed all academic requirements established by the Salt Lake School District and the Utah State Board of Education, and are entitled to receive their diplomas!"

"Seniors, it's finally that time! So, please present yourself on stage when called forth by Dr. Reinhardt and Dr. Harrington!"

A few minutes later, after everyone had received their diplomas, the moment we've been waiting for had finally come!

"And now, without further ado," Principal O'Hara, "I now introduce the class valedictorian and the senior class president, Nicole Guzmán. Nicole will address her classmates and symbolically mark their transition from D. W. Bell High School students to D. W. Bell High School Alumni."

Nicole Guzmán? I heard she was one of the most popular girls, not only in our class but in the entire school! And not only was she the valedictorian of our class; as Principal O'Hara said, she was also el presidente of our class!

Anyway, she was sitting next to the salutatorian, whose cap and gown were red. Hers was pure white. And as she approached the podium, everyone, including her family and friends, cheered her on.

"As freshmen," the young lady read as the crowd became silent, "we were told that our high school years would pass before we knew it. But after that first day, we thought our high school years would drag on forever. Now we celebrate these four years, as they actually did pass by before we even knew it."

We all cheered after hearing that. It indeed was a long four years.

"Our incredible teachers and administrators at D. W. Bell High School have taught us the importance of being unique and being the best that we can be," Nicole continued. "No matter what we embark on in the next stage of our lives, we are united in the fact that we are each unique and special, and we are united in the fact that we will always be Mustangs."

True dat, Nicole. True dat...

But this next part in her speech is where things got a bit confusing...

"Now, will Jason Davis and Hera Nguyen, the Cutest Couple for this graduating class please stand," Nicole demanded.

Wha... Who wrote that into the program's transcript?!

Nonetheless, Hera and I stood up, totally confused. Even our parents and my sister seemed puzzled at what was going on.

"These two wonderful people, a jock and a nerd, are a sheer example of what it means to build a friendship despite your differences, be it popularity or an overwhelming love of a certain culture," she continued, "even if it means really getting to know them to a certain extent."

True. But you didn't have to put us on blast like this!

"But in time you, just like these two, may find later that you're not so different after all."

Not gonna lie, it's all true. Hera and I are indeed not so different from each other...

And as soon as we sat back down, Nicole continued: "After four years of waking up, going to school, going to practices, and going back home after long days, we can now say 'we made it!' Just as much as it's an end to our high school lives, it's a whole new beginning for all of us. Way to go, class of 2019! Way to go!"

Another eruption of cheers and hollering ensued before the most critical moment came: the turning of the tassels!

"And now, without any further ado, I'd like to ask the Class of 2019 to please rise."

We all stood up. I stood my happy ass up, proud of what's about to happen to me next! I was officially about to become a graduate of my Alma Mater!

It was an uproar from there with every single student's family in the auditorium, because it was rockin' with applause and cheers.

"Let's take this next step together, and turn our tassels from the right side to the left to symbolize our transition into our next adventure," Nicole said through all the noise, and we all turned our tassels. And even Hera and I turned our tassels with beaming pride!

"Congratulations to the D. W. Bell High Class of 2019!!" Principal O'Hara exclaimed.

And everyone, and I mean everyone, went wild, cheering, shouting and throwing our hats up in the air. All the students' parents were joining in the ruckus, even my own family!

***

When everything settled down and everyone was leaving the auditorium, I searched for Hera amongst the bustling crowd outside. I pushed through the big bustling crowd until I saw Hera's hair—her beautiful hair—tied in a bun; she wasn't wearing her cap anymore.

"Oi, Hera!" I exclaimed.

"Wait, you're still here?" Hera asked. "Didn't you want to go home after this, JJ?"

"There's no one I'd rather be sharing this moment with right now," I replied. "I love you so damn much, Hera Dominique Nguyen."

"I love you too, Jason Anthony Davis, Jr.," Hera said back.

And we locked lips in another passionate kiss, this time as high school graduates.

"Ugh, guys! We're right here!"

Well, fellas, at the end of that hellish nightmare, everything was more or less sorted out. My life has changed, I've officially and completely moved on from Julie, I'm finally going to college, and I got the one thing I didn't realize I needed: my true match, Hera! And, for the most part, I got the redemption I ever so needed.

And to think this all started with a single senior year incident...