Another Round of Goodbyes

Okay, before I get started...

DA culture lesson 65: The Wailing Wall
This is the wall on one side of the outdoor basketball court where the seniors line up every year at the end of grad for final goodbyes. The "wailing" part should be pretty self-explanatory.

DA culture lesson 74: Departure
For some reason or another, 90% of DA parents, students, and teachers have left the country by the weekend two days after grad. Why everyone leaves this quickly is beyond me.

I was going to title this one "3/4ths of the Way Done," but when I thought about what I was actually going to say, I realized that really wouldn't have been fitting. Because even though all freshman year I was thinking "only 3 more years and I'll be in America," a my goal sophomore year was just to survive (which I did,) when I was reflecting on my first year as an upperclassmen, I saw that my perspective had changed. I wasn't entirely sure I wanted this year to end.

Don't get me wrong-- I was looking forward to Junior-hosted banquet to be over (which it is,) for my homework load to drop to "eat, sleep, video games" (which it has,) and for exams to go well. I haven't gotten my scores for them, so I can't comment on them. But saying goodbye to some staff, the seniors, and one graduating girl in particular has been and will be hard.

For instance, a math teacher who came when I did and has as rough or worse a transition. A history teacher who jumped of the roof with the guys and I for kicks. A french teacher who played Punch Out!! on his computer when we took tests. A gym teacher who almost got fired after dancing at a party she was supposed to be chaperoning. I've known these staff members ten times better than some of the people in my own class. What will the school be like without a few young teachers to stir the pot?

And then we have the seniors. I doubt I would have considered myself friends with anyone in the senior class at the end of last year, and here I am missing some of them already. What am I going to do without my fellow Bostonian Red Sox fan? Or my geek friend who I talk to about Zelda timelines with? Or any of my musical buddies? (Plus there's always my ex-wives and awkward make-up appliers.) Or my goofy, crazy bro? And don't even get me started on that girl. She needs a whole 'nother blog post.

Now I'm entirely sure I didn't want junior year to end. It was stressful at times, but in the end, I'd organize three more banquets to get another year with these guys. I'm going to miss you. I'll see ya when I see ya.

-Will


"Despite the fact that I'm not your teacher and I never was, this might be considered inappropriate. Rub my back right here."