Class Memories
For the initial quarter or so of our lives, school and college constitute the greater part of our memories. We remember our friends, out teachers and our classes and our subjects. As time goes on, of course, other priorities take top billing and we slowly drift away from school and its memories. However, for those of us who are just about to graduate, for those of us who have just received our academic gowns for graduations and for those of us who are going to be stepping out into the real world for the first time, things can be just a little trying. After all, it is not easy to leave behind the only world you have ever known. It may be called graduation, but to some of us, it seems like a sudden, blunt end. We always knew we were going to have to don the graduation gowns and caps, that’s a no-brainer, but it is just that when something is always hanging out there somewhere in the future, we don’t expect it to ever come looking for us. After all, what is in the future should stay in the future shouldn’t it? But, I suppose the quantum physicists are right, after all. It is not time that moves, it us that move through its dimensions. The trajectory is ours, it is just another entity. Oh, how one wishes that a device could be built that could alter our trajectory through the fourth dimension, or at least control it (how many takers for a reverse gear?).
We spend so much of our early lives in school that it is hard to imagine a world without it. I mean, what would we complain about if we didn’t have homework? And what would we talk about if not the new admissions? I for one cannot fathom living a life without school. There are those of us who would argue that play time is more important, but in my opinion, we valued play time more because of school, not in spite of it. School teaches us to value things in life, to get organized, to get some perspective. I remember finishing up a lengthy assignment during a hectic all-night session and then swearing to myself that I would never, not ever, procrastinate. If it wasn’t for school and that assignment in particular, I would have never learned my lesson. Academic gowns for graduation ceremonies seem to me to be some sort of symbols that signify that the caring shadow of school is going to be lifted and from now on we are going to have to learn our own lessons. Wearing the caps and gowns for high school graduation is like nailing the coffin shut completely and totally. I suppose I should remember school life for what it was and move on, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot at least honor it with a few words.

