Don't Forget to Call Your Mom
As this week approaches most of my seniors that I worked with are participating in their commencement ceremonies. (A few already have..I didn't forget about you!). I thought it would be a great time to look back on a few of my favorite seniors from over the summer/fall of 2015.
Working with each senior brought me such a great feeling. I knew I was a very very tiny part of the first leg of their new journey. The first step in becoming independent and following their dreams. Weather those dreams take them to college, a trade school, the military or straight to the work force....I had a little something to do with their start.
"I am going to succeed because I am crazy enough to think I can"
Some of the kiddos I took photos of this past summer I have known since they were very small. One was even my own kid. (No I am not going to get all sappy Mom on you right now..so no worries!) Some I had met for the very first time and grew to adore them (and their Mom's too!) I told all of them to savor every last moment of the final year they had coming up. Take in all the sights, people, smells and lock them into your memory. Hold them there as long as you can. Eventually all memories start to fade once you start adding in all the new experiences to your brain...(it can only hold so much right?!). So, try to think back on that last year...those last few days often so you can keep it all fresh in your memory.
"Sometimes we are all too quick to count down the days, that we forget to make those days count"
I had the pleasure of working with such a diverse group of seniors this past year. Athletes and scholars. Popular kids and the quiet ones. You name it...it was just like the movie "The Breakfast Club". A little bit of everything. Isn't that what every senior class is made up of though? The kids that are outgoing and involved in any and all activities. And the ones that you never seem to find without their nose in a book. The ones that live on their perspective sport fields, and the ones that somehow make it through to graduate but you never seem to ever see them in class! (how does that work???). What a great group I got to work with! I adore each and every one of you! I hope that you were a great mix of all of the above.
I know most of the guys..and maybe even a few of the girls....couldn't wait for this to all be over! They counted down the days. They secretly prayed that they had enough credits to slide by and get out of the 6 a.m. wake up calls. You will miss it someday..I promise. Maybe when your parents pull away on college drop off day or maybe once you have your own children..but one day you will. It will all seem like such a blur and you will wish you had done more. Made more friends, gotten involved in more sports or activities. You will wish you had done your own homework and been just a little nicer to that elderly lunch lady. You will miss your annoying math teacher telling you that you can't use your calculator and sometimes you will wake up in the middle of the night for no reason from a nightmare that you were late for class and that stinking bell was going off! It will come flooding back at the oddest times. That's why I preached to my seniors as well as my own kids to just enjoy it. It went really really fast ...didn't it?
"We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power that we need inside of ourselves already; we have the power to image better" JK Rowling
I will have a whole other blog devoted to why you should get senior photos, why you should choose me and what to wear etc. Until then, I hope that you find these examples inspiring if your graduating in 2017. I tried to capture a little personality in each session. Not every kid is the same. Yes, I called you a kid...cause you still technically are :) Not everyone plays a sport or even likes to smile. That's okay, we can make your session exactly what you want, I promise!
I couldn't possibly find all the words that should be said to those walking across their stage/field last week or this week. There are so many quotes and words of advice that pertain to you and your bright future. John Lennon once said "How can I go forward when I don't know which direction I am facing?". I hope that's not the case for each and every one of you. I hope that you have some sort of desire and passion burning in you and you have a plan. A plan to make your life better than those before you. A plan to be happy. Whatever that may be..wherever it leads you. I wish you happiness. You have to go find your own..it won't find you.
It's okay if high school didn't go the way you wanted or planned. You know now that you are starting fresh. Go get what you want. Do what makes you happy and be who/want you want to be. If you want more friends...go make them! If you want to be in better shape...go to the gym! If you want to be more involved...sign up for anything you have time for! It's easy. May be a bit scary..but well worth it in the end.
To my senior Mom's out there...stay strong Mamma! I am going through the same things and emotions right now. I totally understand the pride but complete amazement of how fast it all went. The happiness you feel for them but the freaking out your doing inside because they are leaving..eek! I am hoping that we all make it through without too many nervous break downs and tears. Such a sad and joyous day all in one. Why is being a woman so hard?! Why all the mixed emotions...???? And men wonder why they can't figure us out!
In closing I'd like to say that I am super duper proud of each one of you kids I featured not only here but all the seniors that walked these past and next few weeks. You are on to bigger and better things. A bright future. I left you with this very last photo because I thought it was very fitting .....he is in the middle of the path. A lot of memories behind him and room in front to grow. You are each on your own path. Make it count. Make it memorable. Make it something to be proud of. Make good choices. And if you are going away, be safe and don't forget to call your mom once in awhile. I guarantee she will be missing you like crazy.
Congratulations to the Class of 2016!!!!!!
xoxoxoxox
Joyce
