GRADUATED

photo by Aly Hathcock 

*Queue confetti* I am now an official graduate! Last Tuesday I walked across the stage ending a chapter in my life and beginning a new one. Something surprised me as I walked across the stage and that was that I was a little sad my high school days were over. All this time this was the moment I had been looking towards and for some reason I started to feel a little nostalgic. 

Growing up in Vestavia Hills as an immigrant had it's differences. Throughout my school years I didn't quite fit in. I began to notice the differences in middle school and did not enjoy them at all.  Needless to say I was ready to leave ASAP. There were little things here and there about our culture about how we did things that made life a little different. Like how my mom would need to know where I was everywhere and everyone else's moms were totally chill #latinamomproblems (don't get me wrong there is nothing I would change I will most likely be the same way with my children). Also our food, our language, the way we did things, everything. Because I felt so different, I wanted to escape to a place where difference was embraced: New York City. That's when my dream of moving to New York began. Although my dream always stayed strong and my passion for the city never faded, leaving this place was going to be a little harder than I had thought. 

What made the change?  The moment I began to take every moment for what it was and really enjoy it was when the times really started to look up. I looked forward to the 6 minutes in-between classes where I got to catch up with friends. It's amazing how great of a story teller you become when you have to fit in exciting stories in 6 minutes while walking through a crowd of 1,000 people. I began to enjoy pep rallies (still not the biggest fan) but we certainly did enjoy them much more than the years past. I even went to a football game! Crazy, I know, because I've yet to understand how football actually works. I had incredible teachers who taught me far beyond what any textbook could teach me. I started to appreciate what was around me.

If I could tell past self one thing it would be this: never take any moment, a place, or a person for granted.  Graduating made me realize how many small and 'insignificant' moments we have that are so easily taken for granted. And it's not our fault, it's just the way life is. But what we can do is look for those moments and savor them just a little more. 

photo by Aly Hathcock 

To my family, thank you for all you do for me. From the laughs to the support to the honesty when I have really messed up. I would be nowhere without you. To my parents, thank you for always pushing me to be the best I can and being an example of perseverance and hard work. To my brother, thank you for showing me if you set your mind to it nothing is impossible. To my family who is far and couldn't be physically but were here in spirit, I love you all the more and I am eternally grateful for having you as my family. Los amo con todo mi corazon. 

To my teachers, it's because of you that I began to have a better outlook on life. Although what's in the textbooks is important, what you've taught beyond that are things I cannot learn anywhere else. Thank you for devoting your life to all of us and thank you for being such incredible people.

To my friends, I wouldn't have made it without you!! Thanks for the fun times at concerts and trips and car rides and everything in-between. I always dreamed of having the friends I do now and it has been an incredible journey. 

I now sit and search for jobs for the summer as I save up for my move to New York City. It hasn't been an easy journey but I know my middle school self would be proud of me and what is to come.

Next stop: New York, New York!

Until next time,

Mariana