Earlier this year, I was talking with Jacelyn about the Stranger Things finale, and we agreed the best part was that final scene where the main character explains what will happen to all the other characters. For grads, your series finale is upon you. So, what will happen to you?
I’m sure parents, family, friends, and teachers have a lot of guesses, but none of us really know. I do think some things will happen.
I remember sitting with Raeann and Kayden, and there was no else in the room. Raeann, out of the blue, goes, “Let act out a scene from a TV show.” Then she’s like, “I’m bald, I’m a chemist, and I have cancer.” And Kayden, without missing a beat goes, “Yo!” And I’m like, “Hey that’s Breaking Bad!” Not exactly high level acting like Leila or Sienna singing Mamma Mia, but I suppose it was kind of close. This is a grad class that’s fun and creative and spontaneous, and I know they’ll go on to do the wacky, the weird, and the wonderful.
One time, I’m in my room, and Mira comes in, and she is completely serious. She said, “I need some advice.” A little bit worried and apprehensive, I asked her what the matter was. Mira said, “Well in Spy vs Spy, Damon’s trying to get me, I have to get Ethan who is trying to get Brooklyn trying to get Cam and I don’t know who is going to betray who.” I’m like, “Wow, that’s crazy complicated. Better luck next time.” I suppose this grad class will do well in the corporate world, because they have a lot of strategic thinking, and they’re prepared to do anything to climb the corporate ladder.
Then, there was this time in my calculus class when I was teaching a concept called the chain rule. Suddenly, I looked up and I saw Stella, Molly, Juju, Mary, Mila, and Sophie were hunched down and their arms were all linked together. A little dumbfounded, I politely inquired what they were doing. “We’re the chain rule,” they said. “We’re chained.” Before long, the entire class was up and chained together. This grad class does things together, often in unique and unusual ways. I get the sense some of them will hang out together long after high school ends.
I had a complaint about Cole a couple of times. As part of an athletics council initiative, he wanted students to guess how many medals Canada would win at the Olympics. It sounded like a nice idea. But then he printed over 120 posters and posted them all over the school. I was astounded, not in a good way, but assumed it was a printing error. A couple weeks later, he did the same thing again advertising Balls Week. After lambasting Cole for so much printing, he said, “At least people know about the event.” Touché. Not long after, I was talking to Liam about his classy and classic, but non-school tie. “Look at Thomas,” he said. “If you look good, no one says anything.” This is a grad class that knows how to smile and talk their way of out tricky situations.
At coffee house, as part of his fantasy hockey punishment, Jayden was required to give a rousing rendition, along with a dance, of a Taylor Swift song. Then he was to lead the grads in singing Sweet Caroline. Played for laughs perhaps, but the singing and dancing went decently well, and the grad singalong, exceedingly so. What one might think is going to be one thing could easily turn out to be something else. This is a grad class that knows when it has to do something, like it or not, it will do it with style.
There is much uncertainty and ambiguity at graduation. Sure, the immediate short term future might be decided. That city, that school, that dorm. But beyond that immediacy, the what will I do, where will I go, how much success will I have, is a shroud cast darkly. There may be a little fear, but mixed in with excitement and boldness, the unfurling of the unknown is decidedly what the joy of life is all about.
The graduation ceremony is rife full of optimism and cheer albeit with dizzying, blurry speed. When the speeches, the congratulatory stage appearance, the hugs and handshakes are all over, this grad class then begins their long and final walk to find out what they will shape and create, what will happen to them, and who they will become.
In the TV show finale, one character’s future is uncertain, hanging between sadness and happy possibility. The others quickly chime in, saying “I believe” to a future full of hope and happiness and goodness.
Grads, the end credits will soon roll on your finale. In this brief moment, before the wave of time rolls over you, and the jigsaw becomes complete; in this brief moment, as you share a laugh with those who love you and stick with you; in this brief moment, as you stand outside the lower gym taking it all in, and you begin your first steps away from this school, know this: Choose to contemplate and treasure a future that is shiny and vast and open and yours. It will happen.
I believe.