The day has arrived. I couldn't believe it. It was my 8th-grade graduation, and here in Croatia, we do it a little differently than in the States. In the States, you have this ceremony and this big party, but that's not Croatia. Here in Croatia, you wear colored t-shirts, you get them signed. The guys use colored torches, and we go to the beach, It's awesome.
I was so full of energy.
I woke up at 6 a.m because I was rushed with adrenaline.
I put on this playlist with some nostalgic songs, and I was one thousand precent sure I was going to cry while I listend to those songs. Because I was not only going to high school with people I didn't know. I was leaving my friends with whom I've been for more than half of my life. It's sad to see it all come to an end. The yelling, the studying, writing cheat sheets, having a horrible day at school, having the best day at school, watching movies, eating. Every moment in this school was an unforgettable memory. I'm so happy to experience new things, but I'll miss hanging out with my whole class, the trips, everything. I filmed a Get ready with Me video so I can remember that moment.
After I filmed the Get rady with me video, I filmed a Get dressed with me video. I put on my shorts, basic jeans, and I put on my hot pink t-shirt, which has a litlle fun poem on the front in Croatian, of course, but it translates to: Teachers have phobias from us, we finally finished their slavery. On the back, it had my nickname, my class, generation and school. I sat in my chair and put on my light blue Adidas Spezial shoes, my hair straightened with 4 markers in my back pocket and a hairtie on my wrist. I was ready. I ate something real quick, popped a piece of gum in my mouth, and at about 7:10 a.m I left my house, my mom crying, her last baby is graduating from 8th-grade.
I met up with my best friend, we live realy close to each other, but she goes to another school, so we signed each other's t-shirts. Then we hugged goodbye, and I went the opposite direction.
I was meeting up with my other best friend from my class, Lili. When we met up at our spot, we signed each other's t-shirts and took some photos. We just started talking and walking to our school. When we got there, all of the 8th- graders were outside, naturally we all talked and signed our t-shirts till the bell rang. We went inside for the last time as students of our Primary school. I went to my class with my friends, our headmistress waiting for us in a matching t-shirt. After a while of talking, eating, and walking around school for other kids to sign our t-shirts, the last bell of the day rang. When it rang, everybody stormed out of school and onto our football field. Where every guy from eighth grade, had a colored torch. Music was playing. There was a lot of yelling, some students were ripping up their notebooks or workbooks, and some were just watching from the sidelines.
It was about 1 p.m. when we said our last goodbyes, and went to the beach. I was already tired, but I was too happy; all of us were together, celebrating. On the beach, there were a ton of eighth graders from other schools around the town. Everybody signing everyone's t-shirts. When 5 p.m. rolled around, we made our way to the Riva. I found my best friend, and we walked to our training pool to get people from our team to sign our t-shirts. So much fun that night. There was so much commotion going on in the town because there were just hundreds of thirteen- to fourteen- year- olds. EVERYWHERE. It was a long day already, but it wasn't done. 7 p.m. we were all hanging out on the beach, and went decided to play Hide and seek. THE BEST DECISION EVER. We were divided into groups, and we sprinted up the hill to hide. Never would I have thought that I would say this. I love my friends and colleagues, even the annoying ones. I cried so hard that night, just because I missed it already.
I got home at a quarter to midnight, brushed my teeth, and showered, running up and down the whole town is not for the weak. That's for sure. I walked into my room and just collapsed pnto the bed, but I didn't go to sleep; I opend up my phone. Why? Probably to torture myself. I went directly to ,Photos'. I watched every single video and photo. I started crying on a video of Lili running on the beach to our friends when we got separated. Such a fun night, but in the end, what can you do? All good things must come to an end. I drifted off after that.
2 weeks later
I came into the school hall. I was wearing linen pants with a floral shirt, simple, basic. I walked in with Lili and three guys from my class. We sat down and waited for about 15 minutes till the "ceremony" started. The first person to grab the microphone was our principal. He said: "good morning everyone. I hope that you're feeling well. Today you're ending a huge chapter in your life. So when I call out your name, please come to the front."
He called out one student at a time, giving them their report cards and books to more successful student students. When he called my name, I stood up, walked up to him, and he handed me my report, and that was it. Everything done, gone. Well, not everything. We still had one thing to do. We made small speeches, some of us at least, we walked up on the stage one by one and read our speeches. My speech went like this: "to everybody present in this room, I thank you, for you have helped me through most of my ups and downs. I thank my teachers, even when I wanted to throw you off the roof of the school, I understood why you said what you said or did what you did. So I thank you. My dear colleagues, some of us may not have been here from the start, but without every single one of you, my years in this school wouldn't have been as amazing as they were. Every laugh, yell, jump, whenever we climbed something or did something stupid. I'm glad it was with you. To my headmistress, thank you for putting up with us every day. Your patience is and forever will be appreciated. Thank you for your time." 4 speeches later and a 20 minute long goodbye. We walked out of that school for the last time. All of my memories will be cherished and unforgettable.
The end