If my life were boiled down into some sort of emotional soup right now, that soup would taste like panic, stress, and a pinch of nostalgia. For those of you who are blissfully unaware, I am in grade 12 and that of course means that I graduate this year... *internal screaming*
Yesterday I went to meet with my second grade teacher Ms.Sawers at my old elementary school. On my way there, I had a chance to walk through the village canadian co-op where I lived for the majority of my childhood. It's a strange feeling following abandoned routines from when you were younger, the only word that I can really use to encompass it is 'small'. I was able to walk from my old friends town house, across the little bridge where we used to play cards, and stop in front of my old home. Taking the path I used to take to walk to school, I couldn't help but notice how much shorter the trip felt.
The air of unfamiliar familiarity continued to hold me even once I had arrived at the school, if not more so. I had a couple of minutes to spare before my meeting, wherein I decided to wait outside. I sat on the bench where I used to spend every free moment with friends or books, and let the nostalgia take over. I found myself passing insignificant little landmarks presenting themselves at the forefront of my attention alongside sticky memories and forgotten stories. Behind that very bench, for example was the last place I had a conversation alone with my best friend at the time.
It was extremely contrasting when my grade 12 self, took a picture of my grade 8 class on the wall, before walking an extra ten feet and stopping in front of the exact hook that I picked out on my first day of kindergarten. I couldn't help but compare all of my firsts with my upcoming lasts, and the infinitely terrifying feeling that accompanies leaving behind everything that I've ever known. I understand that my feelings toward graduating are in no way unique, but that doesn't make them invalid.
Propel gives us an amazing opportunity to manipulate our futures into presenting themselves earlier on. It gives us the chance to prepare for our next steps, and showcase our abilities, which is why I am extremely grateful for the inclusion of grade 12's in this run of the program. When I was in elementary school, or middle school, or even the 9th grade, if you would have told me that I would end up at NMC as a guinea pig for some crazy new program, I would have told you to stop wasting my time. Now, I can't help but see the opportunity in everything.
The air of unfamiliar familiarity continued to hold me even once I had arrived at the school, if not more so. I had a couple of minutes to spare before my meeting, wherein I decided to wait outside. I sat on the bench where I used to spend every free moment with friends or books, and let the nostalgia take over. I found myself passing insignificant little landmarks presenting themselves at the forefront of my attention alongside sticky memories and forgotten stories. Behind that very bench, for example was the last place I had a conversation alone with my best friend at the time.
It was extremely contrasting when my grade 12 self, took a picture of my grade 8 class on the wall, before walking an extra ten feet and stopping in front of the exact hook that I picked out on my first day of kindergarten. I couldn't help but compare all of my firsts with my upcoming lasts, and the infinitely terrifying feeling that accompanies leaving behind everything that I've ever known. I understand that my feelings toward graduating are in no way unique, but that doesn't make them invalid.
Propel gives us an amazing opportunity to manipulate our futures into presenting themselves earlier on. It gives us the chance to prepare for our next steps, and showcase our abilities, which is why I am extremely grateful for the inclusion of grade 12's in this run of the program. When I was in elementary school, or middle school, or even the 9th grade, if you would have told me that I would end up at NMC as a guinea pig for some crazy new program, I would have told you to stop wasting my time. Now, I can't help but see the opportunity in everything.