On Mother’s Day weekend, we threw Morgan a graduation party at our house. Last Monday she took the last of her semester tests. Friday evening, Morgan attended her high school graduation before leaving for Project Graduation. On Saturday, Morgan zipped around town attending her friends’ graduation parties. And, just like that, she is done with high school.
For several years now, Yukon High School has held their graduation ceremony outdoors in the high school’s football stadium. Back when Susan and I graduated, the ceremony has held indoors in the Fine Arts auditorium, and the 360(ish) graduating seniors were limited to inviting six guests. Yukon’s Class of 2023 had 660 graduating seniors, and by holding the event outdoors each senior was allowed to invite ten friends and family members. On the day of graduation there was a threat of severe weather, and a backup plan involved moving the event indoors and reducing the number of tickets per senior to three. Although the event was cloudy, windy, and a little chilly, the weather held out long enough for the outdoor event to take place.
It will never cease to amaze me how rude and self-centered people can be at these events. The event started at 7pm, and we were in line at 6pm to ensure we obtained seats together with a few of the festivities. Multiple times during the event, latecomers entered the stands and stood directly in front of us, blocking our view of the stage and the large screen behind it. At least twice we had to ask people to please find a seat because they were blocking our view of essentially everything. The lady sitting next to us let her child repeatedly climb the security fence and stomp around on the metal bleachers for over an hour. The peope behind us practiced blowing whistles so that when their child graduated, they would be prepared to continue blowing the whistles. Being in crowds like this is like swimming in a pool of rudeness.
My irritation of humanity was eventually replaced by pride as seniors began to cross the stage and obtain their diplomas. It takes a while for 660 kids to graduate, but the organizers did a good job of moving things along quickly.
An hour or so after graduation, Morgan boarded a bus and attended Project Graduation, and overnight lock-in for graduating seniors which began as a way to prevent drunk driving accidents the night of graduation. The lock-in, which lasts from approximately 9pm-6am, had so many fun events for the kids. There was a casino where kids could win tickets for drawings, karaoke, and dozens of activities. More than that, it’s a place where the kids can celebrate graduation and spend one last night together. Susan and I both attended our graduating class’s Project Graduation, and I have many memories of that night. Earlier in the week Susan got a sneak peek at some of the decorations, and among other surprises it appears the kids were greeted by at least one out-of-this-world visitor!
Running on no sleep, Morgan visited several of her friends’ parties on Saturday before coming home and sleeping for at least twelve hours.
High school graduation is a mixed bag of emotions and a lot to take in. I remember feeling glad high school was over and excited about what was to come with a little bit of anxiety and fear mixed in. Morgan will be attending college in the fall and that will be the beginning of her next adventure, but for the next few months she can kick back and enjoy the summer of 2023 as a high school graduate. Congrats, Morgan!