Go get em' Class of 2019!

As these next few weeks approach, most of my seniors that I worked with this past year are participating in their commencement ceremonies. I thought it would be a great time to look back on a few of my favorite seniors from over the past 12 months. And, to give a few words of my ever so wonderful wisdom...:)

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 always say to savor every last moment of the final year my seniors 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 and in the forefront.

"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 couldn't possibly find all the words that should be said to those walking across their stage/field in these upcoming weeks. 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.

To my senior Mom's out there...stay strong Mamma! I have went through the same things and emotions as you are 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 you 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! Not just the ones I photographed, but all the seniors that will walk these past and next few weeks. I couldn't possibly get everyone I worked with in here that's part of the class of '19....but I am thinking of you and am proud of you too! 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 .....she is in front of the building that kept her safe, warm, fed, and educated for the last 4 years. She will walk out that door today (since her graduation is actually ...today!) for the last time. Move on to bigger and brighter things. Do what's best for you. 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 2019!!!!!!

xoxoxoxox

Joyce