Strange things happen when people realize you’re leaving a place - I feel that they immediately back away. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s a scientific human reaction. A form of self preservation. I’ve seen it and felt it so many times but now as graduation appears it all seems so real. I never thought it would be so hard leaving a place I had no desire in coming to for so many years. I’m now at the realization that most of my friendships have expiry dates. It’s a part of graduating, everyone moves away and life just happens. Some friendships last forever, but others just become strange. Someone you’ve seen every day for the last five years suddenly is gone from your life. new beginnings So how does one adequately say goodbye to the place that shaped them for so many years? Frankly, that is something I’m in the process of figuring out. Nobody wants to deal with the exhausting task and emotions of figuring out how . Victor Hunter and his words are something I think about quite often, one of my favourite quotes being on the idea of goodbye. “ Today I must say goodbye. Goodbyes are important. Without a meaningful goodbye, an effective closure, there cannot be a creative hello, a new beginning and hopeful commencement… in saying goodbye to each other and to our current ‘home’ we are able to greet and affirm new hope and anticipation. We affirmed the new journeys yet to be taken, as individuals and as a family.” I see the beauty in leaving somewhere in that it means you’re starting a new chapter - growing as a person. As humans we prefer to leave things in stand-by, just in case. Goodbyes are a very grown up thing. Not being able to turn back is painful. I’m not sure when it will hit me, whether it’s when I’m walking across the stage, cap and gown, or when I’m sitting in an empty classroom, after everyone's gone. Either way I know it’s coming and it won’t be easy. The pounding weight on my chest of what is to come, is not only holding me back but pushing me towards a new future. Something bigger and brighter. High School has taught me so much about the world, and about endings. Taught me about relationships, but made sure I had room for new ones. Reminding me that nothing is permanent, but no good thing should ever be taken for granted. And as I throw myself into my future, I’ll remember what it means to say goodbye, and how it shapes me as a person.
Emma O
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