This is the day I had been waiting for so long. I GRADUATED!
Too bad it wasn't the real thing and I still have a year and a half of high school left. Ok, that's a total lie, I have had a great high school experience and am not ready to graduate high school whatsoever. Nor was a ready to be finished with secondary school here in Peru.
Even though it was a very bittersweet day, it passed by amazing.
It was a very chill day. I woke up, got ready as normal, only difference was that I put my cap and gown on top of my school uniform. My host parents drove me to school, and I hung out there with my classmates for about an hour before we actually left.
The graduation ceremony was going to be held at the Military School. It was a big deal.
We boarded the buses, and it was SO hot. And the window I sat by would not open. Thankfully I had my hat to use as a fan on the way there.
Once we arrived at the Military School, we found all of our classes and got ourselves somewhat organized. We also had to wait for all of the parents to arrive to seat themselves first.
Then we all made our way inside. Lined up in order. All with excitement and butterflies in our stomachs. It really seemed surreal to me that I would be getting to experience this wonderful event with my classmates.
So the ceremony started. They did it by each classroom, starting with A and ending with I. I am in 5I, so my classmates and I had a while to wait. There were about 250+ that had to go before us.
I won't lie, it was a little boring. But it was also so fun! Some people gave speeches in between, all of the class tutors of course had something to say about their students. And I got to see many of my friends from the other classes graduate and cheer them on.
After much anticipated waiting, it was finally our turn to go. The last class. We went to wait in line with so many nerves but so much excitement at the same time.
And finally I stepped up on that stage. Feeling like I had accomplished something. And graduated from secondary school.
Well, I kind of graduated for Hillary, my host sister on exchange in the US, if anything. They gave me her diploma. But it was still such a great experience.
After we all had finally graduated and celebrated tremendously, we all headed outside for pictures. The end of the ceremony consisted of singing the national anthem, the school anthem, and more festivities. As I said before, it was very bittersweet.
I hold these people, this place, very dear in my heart.
I only spent about 4 months with a class of Peruvians that have spent the last decade together. And they took me in as one of them. And I got to participate in something so amazing with them. And I'm so beyond blessed and thankful for that.
Here's to I.E. Pedro Ruiz Gallo Prom. 53.
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