‘AGE 12, DAILY HERALD, Caledonia Grad. Supp., July 11, 1976

10 <tolw Tea

GRADUATION 1978 AY”

By John Peterson

June 23rd, 6:00 P.M;
Tie Caledonia. school
parking lot is empty. The
temperature is in the
mid'eighties and only a
whispering breeze sof-
tens the oppressive heat.

6:30 P.M.: The first
cars start to arrive
bringing with them the
bustling hurried directors
and assistants.
9:30 ~P.ML: The
graduates and parents
have begun to arrive.
The parking lot has now
become a congestion of
ears issuing forth well-
groomed young men and
laughing, smiling giris
attired in long evening
dresses and adorned with
exotic hairstyles.
Dresses, resembling
billowing clouds, swirl
and flow with effortless
grace. But gowns, like
clouds, move quickly. --
Soon the procession
begins. Armin arm, the
students march slowly
across the parking lot
towards the theatre. To
an unknowing observer it
could be a procession of
kings, queens and
noblemen. Al] the jokes
and~ laughter of the
rehearsals have disap-
peared and are replaced
with solemnity and
thoughtfulness.

Many have begun to
realize the true meaning
of graduation. It sym-
bolizes the closing of a
chapter and the begin-
ning of responsibility.
Unless more education is
in the offing, there will be
no more staying up late at
night cramming for an
exam or finishing an
essay; and no more
falling back upon a
Multitude of others for
help or sympathy. In
sehool one decision or
mistake won’t determine
one’s destiny, but in the
real world it can. School
represents a lot of hard
work and determination
butschool also represents
second chances, that are
usually non-existent on
the ‘‘outside’’.

The closing of the
twelfth year of school and
thenearing of graduation
ean be sensed in the at-
mosphere of .the school
and in the attitude of the
grads. Itis as if a form of

magic has. encompassed

the school, controlling the
students. . Enemies
hecome friends.
Disagreemen

ts and petty.

disappear. The
graduates suddenly
realize that all this will
am terminate.and their

sudden change in attitude
is a feverish attempt at
extracting the maximum
from the final few days.

Although each student

is aware of nostalgic

feelings towards his
school days he is also
imbued with positive
feelings towards the
future. The ceremony in
which he plays the major
role represents a symbol
of hope; a hope that each
graduate will be en-
couraged to pursue a
particular goal. This

- therefore is the ultimate

effort of parents and
teachers alike: to nudge
the young into the waiting
world.

(=e

10:30 P.M.: . The ac-
ceptance oj diplomas has
been completed. The
graduates return to their
appropriate places with
mixed emotions, some
almost in tears, others
relieved and unsure.

Musie again fills the
auditorium as the
students file off the stage
triumphantly; each
eagerly anticipating the
unsupervised activities
which are soon to follow.
Anxiety has given way to
relief amidst the at-
mosphere of celebration.
Once the couples move
into the alleyway the boys
begin to assume their
normal posture and the
girls even appear to joke
with their partners as
they move more easily in
their unusually elegant
attire. Curiously enough,

the theatre no longer.

seems enormous; it has
become a-familiar rather
than an alien place.
10:30 P.M.: . ° The
banquet in the gym has
almost ended. Parents
and students alike pour
out of the building
engulfing the parking lot
ina tide of colour. Sounds
of laughter and ‘chatter
fill the air as car doors

bang and engines roar. ©

10:45 P.M.: Nearly
everyone has left, The
remaining ‘cars are few
and far between. But for
the wearied directors the
night is not over. The
decorations must be put
away, tables must be
clcared and floors must
be swept,

11:00 =P.M.L:. The
parking lot is again
empty and desolate, The
rising wind blows a
discarded program
across the blank asphalt
in. a swirl of dust,
bringing with it dark
ominous. clouds and
threatening rain.

-Rehersal didn’t ta

te we

Let go sir

QOL ELEM MOM OLD aaa LH,

&
eer

SHANNON
ays

WE SALUTE

Our

Graduates

mVHE GLASS OF "78.

4601 LAZELLE |

from

Barb-Daizell & Staff

638-1127

POPIPOO ID Lt

Congratulations
‘GG Caledonia
_- Grads!

| from
Bud & Bonnie at
McColl Real Estate
_ Services Lid.

635-6131

EMM M MMMM MLM