The other day I was watching TV, messing around with the On Demand feature, a little red button that almost magically allows you to fast forward, rewind, and pause whatever you're watching, whenever you're watching. Just imagine, being able to see Obama’s inauguration, or witness Snookie repeatedly take over Italy with the slight touch of your remote! We all can admit we’d love (and abuse) that ability, to sneak peek a preview of the future, take back a regrettable action in the past, or just freeze the hands of time to cherish one moment. Then my mind landed on the thought of our time in middle school, don’t we want to just hit pause right this second, at this graduation? As Peeta from the Hunger Games said, “ I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever.”

But first let’s push the rewind button and go back to our younger years here. Parents, do you remember us being younger, crying on our knees begging, “Please don’t leave me here, mommy,” as you drove away back home, leaving us with a lunchbox and a backpack? Our innocent eyes in a crowd of other nameless children that we didn’t know. Ironic to say, maybe just maybe in a couple of weeks one of those unknown kids would become our best friend. We wouldn’t guess that because we were probably still in the corner with hot tears running down our faces. But, our tears were quickly dried by the heartwarming face of our former principal Ms. Cruise, as well as other amazing teachers. All there to teach us crazy songs, and poems about our ABCs and 123s!

Click fast forward now, transitioning a little ahead back to the first day of the 8th grade. Still debating the five high schools that would be lucky enough for you, a “fabulous” student, to apply for, still wondering what you’d attempt to do or what you’d wear at the first dance, and still, in denial that our meaningful years were slowly fading away. Even from the beginning of August, we had one thought set in mind, as Rhianna had sung, “(We) came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive. (We) came to survive, to prosper, to rise, to fly.” We were all determined, and devoted to making our last months our most memorable. And to accomplish our goal? We filled our schedules with committee work, dance preparation, and other various activities. We were nourished with the full school experience. It was our time to make an imprint of who we were and forever be recognized at school. Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different. “ So that is what we became, our true selves. We excelled and worked together through service learning by getting things accomplished. Our motivation was making our movie last, so these past few weeks we’ve recorded in our minds to replay over and over. But, “you can’t start the next chapter in your life if you keep rereading the last one.”

Later in the year we came to the season finale of our television program. When we all finally realized our careers had come to an end. High school acceptance letters came rolling into our mailboxes, graduation rehearsals began, and yearbooks went flying to any student armed with a colorful Sharpie marker and a brain filled with a last bittersweet goodbye. I think the person that works our life’s On Demand button probably got annoyed because pause wasn’t working, and rewind was becoming slower, with lower quality. It seems as if the whole Television set has been put into fast forward mode, and this time there’s no stopping it. All we can do is face the near future. Even though, I and many of you “wish (We) could have this moment for life.” like Nicki Minaj but we have to move on.

So, here we are, we fast forwarded all the way back to the present time, to the ending credits, our graduation. There’s no more silly poems and songs to take home to mommy and daddy, no more traffic light behavior chart, and no more navy blue blazers with the shiny gold eagle pin we received in 5th grade. Our chronicle has come to the very last lines and scenes. Nothing’s left but childhood memories and ambitious dreams still to be fulfilled. But all that can wait, because today is said to be dedicated for tomorrow, but really today is the marriage of past and present. The remembrance of our saga, and the wonderful people who have touched our very lives in the most positive ways. So lets not even bother pausing, or replaying, or even going ahead into the series. Lets live in this moment, because this moment belongs to us, our parents, and all of our teachers who not only taught us about books, but ourselves, and the world around us. So all I can say now is, not to forget all of this. Please don’t ever forget about all the unique souls you’ve encountered first hand. Lil Wayne once said,”I know you probably wished you never met me but I just hope you never forget me.” and I agree. I won’t dare to ever erase any of you from my mind, and I highly doubt anybody would try to either. “I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known. “ Good luck to everyone, and know wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you decide to become, your school family will be there to support, and love you. Thank you for coming out to our graduation, everyone. And most of all thank you for believing in each and everyone of us!