Graduation Weekend Recap

I had originally planned to get this published a few days earlier, but I have spent the last few days writing thank you notes for graduation gifts, and recovering from our grad party. Thanks for bearing with me!

This past weekend, I graduated from Central Catholic High School. The weekend was so eventful and so memorable. The action kicked off on Thursday with the Senior Awards Ceremony and Senior luncheon, Friday my grandparents came into town, Saturday was our graduation party, and Sunday was the actual ceremony. Definitely a busy weekend, but it was very enjoyable and lots of fun!

I thought I'd write a post (more for my own reference and memories) recapping the main events of the weekend.

Thursday: Senior Awards Ceremony and Luncheon

On Thursday, we had a senior Mass, and the awards ceremony and luncheon immediately followed. It was the last time our senior class was in the school building all together. Various academic, service, and athletic awards were given out at the ceremony, as well as recognition for scholarships. After the ceremony, all of the seniors and their parents headed to the cafeteria for a luncheon. The junior class, our senior class adviser, and our principal spoke at the luncheon about our class. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get emotional. We celebrated with cake, and also received our first official "alumni mailing." So weird!

My mom, me, my sister Hannah, and my sister Natalie before the awards ceremony. We are all wearing Lilly Pulitzer, naturally. Hannah's dress is available here.

And....

I sent in this photo to Lilly Pulitzer Madison Avenue's "Throwback Thursday" contest on their Facebook page. (The photo had to feature vintage or previous season Lilly dresses.) About ten minutes after I sent the email, our photo was posted as the contest winner. I was so excited!

There we are on the FB page!

One of many pictures we took with our friends

It was so weird to be addressed as "alumni." I guess that term always makes me think of older people. Nonetheless, I love this pencil sketch of the school that the Alumni Association gave to all the seniors.

Saturday: Our Graduation Party

We held our party on Saturday night, which was actually the night before the ceremony. All of our family was already in town for the weekend, so it worked out really nicely. We invited family, family friends, a few teachers, our high school friends, and classmates. We had a pretty great turnout, and the weather was perfect! It was a great evening!

THE SETTING: We held the party in our backyard. We rented a tent and some tables. For the color scheme, we stuck with blue and gold, our high school colors. It looked really great! 

Here's the tent all set up. As you can see, we alternated the tablecloths with blue and gold overlays. In the middle is a long table that we used for the food.

More details: 

Top: Cake pops! I made cake pops for the celebration. (I use the tutorial from Little Miss Momma) I made yellow cake, and alternated dipping in milk chocolate and white chocolate. I then embellished with blue and gold sprinkles. I printed a little decorative tag with our names and college logos, and attached it to the cellophane bag with ribbon. They were a hit.

Bottom left: Mizzou napkins! Yes my mom bought Mizzou plates and napkins for the cake.

Bottom right: the centerpieces were little fish bowls filled with blue and gold flat stones, water, and a floating flower candle. My mom also bought gold doilies and blue and gold grad confetti.

THE FOOD: The party was catered. It was so much easier not having to worry about food, and we knew the food would be good! Our cleaning lady's son is a professional chef in Chicago, but also caters for private parties. We had him do all the food. He's Mexican, so his specialty is classic Mexican cuisine. The food was OUTSTANDING. Rafael and his assistant spent the day in our kitchen whipping up delicious dishes. The menu included pork, rice, shrimp ceviche, homemade guacamole, Mexican slaw, salsa, and fruit. Naturally, each table was set with its own bowl of chips and salsa as well. I'd be lying if I said I haven't had the leftovers for lunch everyday this week. So good!

(Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the  food!)

For dessert, we had the cake pops, and then we had a cake for each of my sisters and I. I had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting with the Mizzou tiger, my sister Hannah had a lemon cake with buttercream frosting with a St. Louis Billiken, and my sister Natalie had a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting with an Iowa Hawkeye. Most of the cake was gone at the end, which was so surprising, and definitely a good thing! I think it was probably because our grad party was one of the first of the season, so people weren't "caked out" yet.

The dessert table! Complete with plates and napkins with our respective school logos. Only my mother would search the Internet for those!

Here we are posing with our cakes. So nicely decorated, and so delicious!

I can't wait to be a Mizzou tiger!

For cards and gifts, we put together this little table. My mom ordered wrapping paper with each of our school mascots, and wrapped a gift box and cut a slit in it. We used these for cards. We also put a small framed wallet senior picture in front of each box in case people didn't know who was going to school where. I originally wasn't going to do any sort of picture collage. Some parties you go to have like three massive photo boards, and I honestly think its overwhelming and kind of tacky. I decided to do a small photo board with a few key pictures, using a tutorial from Pinterest. 

Close up of the board.

Here we are with my little brother before the party. All of us girls wore Lilly, again! Hannah wore the same dress from the awards ceremony (see link above.) Natalie wore the Pearl dress in Shorely Blue Chomp Chomp. I wore a Lilly from last season that I bought on 6pm.com. And of course, I wore Ralph Lauren pearls and my Jack Rogers Navajos in Platinum.

We had such an enjoyable evening. It was great to chat and catch up with family and friends, and it was the perfect summer evening. Party was a success!

Sunday: Graduation Day!

Sunday was the actual ceremony. The ceremony wasn't until 5:00, so instead of doing a dinner afterwards, we had brunch on the terrace at the country club with family. It was a beautiful morning, and very enjoyable.

Since I go to Catholic school, the graduation ceremony consisted of a mass with the graduation ceremony afterward. The ceremony went well, except for the fact that it was ungodly hot in the church and one of my classmates fainted. Otherwise, the ceremony was beautiful! It was a very happy moment walking up to the altar to receive my diploma. One of my best friends was the valedictorian, and yes, her amazing speech made me cry. (Good job, Magz!)

My immediate family, both sets of grandparents, my aunt (Mom's twin sister), my nanny Bertie (she's been with us since I was six months old), and my sister's boyfriend came to the ceremony. I was so lucky they could all be there to see me graduate!

After the ceremony, all of the graduates and their families gathered outside the church for pictures. There was cake and punch in the church basement as well.

Receiving my diploma

 

Throwing up our caps! We did it! (I took this photo from our school's Facebook page.)

Here we are with some of our best friends! McKenna, wearing an adorable green dress from The Limited, is going to study journalism at Indiana University. Neely (4th from left) is going to study international relations at George Mason University. Hannie is on the end, wearing an adorable polka dot dress from TJ Maxx. She is going to Mizzou (yay!) to study business.

Sarah and I. She is going to Eastern Illinois University to study special education. She's going to be so great!

Here we are with our best friend Timmy. We've been best friends since Kindergarten! Timmy is going to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study computer engineering in the honors program. He is going to be unbelievably successful!

Isaiah was in our pre-kindergarten class and we used to have play dates with him. That seems like just yesterday! We remained friends in high school. He is going to the University of Notre Dame to major in pre-med.

Here we are with our very stylish friend, Marion (she's wearing a J.Crew dress!). Our families have been great friends for as long as I can remember. Marion is going to Villanova University to study business.

Here's little miss Valedictorian on the left :) Magz is one of our very best friends. Couldn't have made it through the awkward junior high years without her! She is attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall.

Here we are with Bertie. She is basically our second mom. She has been our babysitter/nanny since we were six months old. She has taught me how to sew, and do so many other things. I can't imagine life without her. Love you!

My parents and I. (Loving my mom's seersucker dress and my day's Lilly tie!)

With my Aunt Linda

With my grandma and grandpa Russell. I'm so lucky to have them in my life!

With my grandma and grandpa Woodcock. Love them so much!

Showing off our outfits and our honor cords and caps. Nat and I wore the same thing as we wore to the party. Hannah wore a fun skirt and shirt combo from TJ Maxx.

Hats off!

I love this picture! Inspired by the College Prepster.

OUTFIT RECAP:

Left: (awards ceremony) Vintage Lilly Pulitzer dress, Onex sandals.

Middle: (Sunday brunch) Loft dress (old), BCBGeneration sandals (old), consignment necklace, Longchamp bag.

Right: (party and ceremony) Lilly Pulitzer Dress. (old)

Graduation weekend was so memorable. I am so lucky I was able to spend it with my closest family and friends. My time at CCHS has come to a close, but I will always look back on my time in high school with a smile. I'm so so excited for college!

Did you graduate high school recently? What did you do to celebrate? What did you do for your grad party? What did you wear? Comment away, I want to know!

Stay Stylish. Stay Classy. Be Creative.

Emily

5 Things That Will Forever Remind Me of High School

It's been rather quiet around Stylish.Classy.Creative for the past week. I do apologize! It's been crazy busy, getting ready for the senior luncheon and awards ceremony, making final preparations for my sisters' and I's grad party (it's tonight), and even trying to schedule an appointment for me to get my wisdom teeth out (ugh!). Needless to say, blogging has been momentarily put on the back burner. However, now that graduation weekend has officially kicked off, I figured it was due time for a very fitting post.

I graduate from Central Catholic High School tonight at 5:00. It's still a bit surreal. We've had our senior awards banquet and set foot in the school building one last time as a class. I'm slowly starting to come to the realization that it's actually happening! Last night was my grad party, and I think that reaffirmed my realization. 

As I've mentioned in several previous posts, my time at CCHS was so unique. There are several different aspects, whether it is physical objects, or experiences, that will always remind me of my time in high school. I thought it would be fun to highlight these "5 Things" in a blog post. Read on!

#1: Khaki Pants

Yes, we wore uniforms. Okay, so we weren't subjected to the plaid skirts/blazers/ties that are present at some Catholic high schools. We had a little bit of freedom in our "dress code." Girls could wear khaki/navy/dark brown skirts/pants/bermudas/capris and light blue/gold/navy/white polos or button up blouses. We were allowed to wear sweaters, and school logo sweatshirts and fleeces without a hood. Pretty lenient and very comfortable! You had plenty of ways to "express yourself" but getting dressed each day wasn't too much of an ordeal. 

After wearing the CCHS uniform for four years, I can honestly say that I don't think I will ever be able to wear khakis again. They remind me too much of my school uniform. Every single girl stocked up on the pairs from Aeropostale (pictured above) each fall. They were flattering for a pair of khaki pants, but I just don't think I will ever have a pair of khakis in my wardrobe. They will forever be synonymous with my high school uniform!

#2: Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies

It might be safe to say that if you haven't ever had an Otis Spunkmeyer cookie, you haven't lived. These delicious treats were baked by the hundreds every day in our school cafeteria. They were stacked neatly in their cute little plastic drawers, and protected by the parchment paper wrapper with an Otis quote such as "Cookies Make the World go Round." (Yes, Otis, they do!) The smell of the delicious cookies baking would greet my nose every morning. (They were baked in special Otis ovens, naturally!) During the first few weeks of freshman year, people were obsessed with the cookies! Several guys would get packages several times a day. Not the healthiest, that's for sure. I did have a brief run in with "Otis Obsesssion" my freshman year, but then I made a rule for myself. My rule was that I could have the cookies once a week. I usually chose to eat them on Fridays as a special treat, but there was also many days after a tough AP U.S. History test that I would treat myself to Otis as well. My favorite flavors were butter sugar or milk chocolate chunk. So moist and delicious. From now on, if I ever see Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, I will think of my high school days.

#3: Eclipse Gum

Our school was gum free, so you actually weren't allowed to chew gum. Obviously, this didn't stop us. During freshman and sophomore year, I kept one of the Eclipse Big Paks in my locker. People quickly found out, and flocked to me to get their gum fix. I'll never forget one time during freshman year, when the gum pack fell from the shelf of my locker and spilled all over the hallway. My English teacher was not pleased. Every day after lunch during sophomore year, Maggie and Erin would stop at my locker to get gum before we all walked to wellness together. It was our daily routine. Needless to say, Eclipse gum will always evoke memories of my time as an underclassmen in high school.

Maggie and Erin and I, doing one of our class "Wellness Crew" poses

#4: Pretzel M&Ms

Wow, yet another junk food that will always remind me of high school. Pretzel M&Ms were a big part of my sophomore year volleyball season. My friend Sarah and I would go to the concession stand after our JV volleyball game and grab a pack to eat while we watched the varsity game. It was our little routine, and we were a bit obsessed. We still talk about our obsession with pretzel M&Ms.

Sarah and I on New Year's a few years ago. 

#5: Tennis

The team after a weekend tournament. Love these girls!

For the first two years of high school, I was a volleyball player. Once junior year rolled around, I knew I would need more time to devote to AP classes, so volleyball was out of the picture. In its place landed tennis, a sport that I had only recently taken up during the winter of my sophomore year. I was a bit nervous to join the team at first, as most of the girls had been playing tennis since they were young. I made the team junior year, and I had a great season. Senior year was amazing, we had so much fun singing on the bus to tournaments, goofing around at practice, and of course consuming lots of food. (We had an organized snack schedule for matches, and if you forgot to bring your snack, you were hated :)) I loved that tennis put me with a group of girls who I normally didn't hang out with. It was truly a breath of fresh air. The coaches were great as well, and were very flexible and reasonable. I definitely wasn't the best in my team, but I truly enjoyed the friendship, exercise, and community that tennis offered. It's a sport that I hope to continue to play recreationally in college and beyond. Whenever I play, I will always be reminded of the fun times I had playing tennis in high school. 

Do you have any items/experiences that (will always) remind you of your time in high school?

Stay Stylish, Stay Classy, Be Creative

Emily

The Best Graduation Gifts

No matter how you feel about it, Graduation is fast approaching. This means grad parties, and grad parties often mean gift giving. Although you won't be getting every single grad you know a gift, you will surely be looking to buy gifts for a few. As a girl who is graduating high school in two short weeks, and heading off to college in the fall, I thought I would put together a "Graduation Gift Guide" of sorts to provide some ideas, especially for the hard to buy for. For this post, I focused on high school graduation gifts as opposed to college graduation gifts. 

#1. The Wristlet

Yes, I gave the wristlet its own gift category. Every college girl needs a cute and functional wristlet. Give her an upgrade from the one she got for her 16th birthday and has used throughout high school, and opt for a sleek, more sophisticated version. Leather is ideal, as it will hold up and wipes clean easily.  Try to find one with a see through window for her student ID, a place for her phone, and a key ring for her dorm room key. Perfect for trips to the rec center, dining hall, library, laundry room, and parties or anywhere where she just needs the essentials.

1. Pink Leather {Coach}

2. Black and White Chevron {Target} 

(This one just went on sale!)

3. Printed Canvas {Lilly Pulitzer}

4. Brown Studded Leather {Michael Kors}

(This one currently ships for free!)

5. Green Leather {Ralph Lauren}

(Currently on sale!)

6. Black and Red Stripe {Anne Klein}

7. Blue Leather with Chain Strap {Tommy Hilfiger}

(On sale!)

8. Navy and White Striped Leather {Michael Kors}

#2. The Must Haves

I am a huge fan of functional gifts, and the gifts that follow are nothing short of functional! There are some items that every girl should own before she goes to college, but she often forgets. I believe the following gifts I have rounded up will definitely come in handy for years to come.

1. Patagonia Snap-T- I have two of these and practically live in them during the cooler months. They are so so soft and cozy! Perfect to throw on with leggings and boots for a day in the library, cute with skinny jeans and flats for a coffee date, and I may or may not have used mine as a pajama top when it was freezing out. So versatile. Patagonia items hold up through countless washes, so this investment piece will last for years.

2. Fossil Rose Watch- So many young people forgo watches these days, thinking that they can just use the clock on their cell phone. I think this is a shame! Besides being a cute accessory, there are certain situations where looking at a cell phone clock can be extremely rude. This rose one from Fossil is classic and goes with everything.

3. Rain Boots- I have had so many people tell me that they wish they would have invested in rain gear before going to college. Class is held rain or shine, so give her a pair of cute boots she can throw on for that long walk across campus on rainy days. Target has so many cute options, including this fish-printed pair.

4. Bathrobe- Many girls don't own a bathrobe, and if they do, they might not be willing to be seen in public with it (Guilty, mine is from junior high and has a snowman on it!) Bathrobes are essential for dorm living and community bathrooms. Buy her this cute robe from Target for her to wear on the way back to her dorm room.

5. Umbrella- This goes back to the rain gear idea. An umbrella is a must for walking to class on rainy days, so why not make it a stylish accessory as well!

6. North Face Resolve Rain Jacket- Again, rain gear. I posted about this jacket in my rain gear essentials post. It is the perfect light jacket for spring, but can also be layered over a thicker fleece for a waterproof layer in colder weather. Definitely will be of use for wet and dreary days on campus, and the bright colors are sure to bring a smile to her face.

7. Vera Bradley Large Duffle- This bag is perfect for quick trips home on the weekends. It is dorm room friendly, as it folds flat and can be stored in minimal space (unlike a traditional suitcase.) You would be so surprised at how much you can fit in these duffels! They are also carry-on approved. 

#3. Monogram It

Monograms are just so fun! It shows you put a lot of extra thought into a gift. Here's a sampling of some of my favorite monogrammed gifts.

1. Pencil Cup: Perfect for the desk in her dorm.

2. Notepad: Essential for jotting down reminders and due dates.

3. Tote: This L.L. Bean boat and tote is a classic. Handy for toting books and study supplies to and from the library, or clothes and laundry supplies to and from the laundry room.

4. Towel- She and her roommate will always be able to tell their bath towels apart if hers is monogrammed :)

5. Fleece Half-Zip- Fleece jackets are just the best. Add a monogram to a fleece in her school colors for the perfect gift.

6. Plastic Tumbler- Great for taking to the library for long study sessions, or to the rec center for a workout.

7. Laptop Case- Cases are a must to avoid scratches and cracks. She will have the cutest case in the library with this monogrammed one.

8. State of Mind Necklace- Although not monogrammed, this gift idea is definitely personal. Dogeared makes such meaningful jewelry, and this necklace is no exception. This necklace will remind her where she came from and always keep a reminder of home close to her heart. Especially a good gift if she is going to college out of state. 

Have you bought graduation gifts for anyone yet? What was your favorite gift you received for graduation? Let me know in the comments.

Stay Stylish, Stay Classy, Be Creative

Emily

Graduation Dresses

May has officially begun, so naturally, graduation season is set to kick off! I personally only have two more weeks of high school, and then I graduate on May 19th. 

I found the dress I will be wearing to the actual ceremony and my graduation party months ago (I'm a major planner!) and I will reveal that dress in a later post. For now, I've compiled some of my favorite graduation-worthy dresses for those of you still on the hunt for that perfect dress.

Not graduating this year? No worries. Many of these dresses are perfect summer staples, and are ideal to wear to weddings, parties, and the like this summer.

#1. Colorblocked

Banana Republic / Mod Cloth

Stay right on trend in these bright two-tone dresses. The yellow reminds me of sweet summer sunshine, and would look absolutely darling with white wedges. The green and blue dress is a bit more trendy, and would be best polished off with a chunky statement necklace.

#2: Lace and Eyelet

Old Navy / Jessica Simpson

Delicate lace and eyelet look polished and feminine, especially when paired with the right jewelry. I love this eyelet dress from Old Navy. It comes in lots of punchy colors and the silhouette flatters a variety of body types. The tiers on this lace Jessica Simpson dress make a definite statement, but the shift style keeps things classic. 

#3: Patterned

Gap / Lilly Pulitzer

 

Looking for something a little more eye catching? A printed dress is the way to go! This geometric printed shift dress from Gap is bold in pink and navy. I think a pair of navy wedges would look stunning! What girl wouldn't want to don a Lilly Pulitzer dress at her graduation? This floral print is bright and sweet, and the lace detailing on the back is just too cute. White sandals required! Although a bit pricey, this Lilly dress will carry you through summers for years to come, and always remind you of your graduation day and new beginnings.

 

#4: Polka-Dots

J.Crew / Lauren Ralph Lauren

 

What could be more fun than polka-dots?! Some people believe that polka-dots are childish, but I disagree. Both of these dresses have flattering and sophisticated fits, and the muted colors of the prints keep things grown-up. With these dresses, I would avoid overdoing it on jewelry and let the polka-dots speak for themselves!

 

#5: Solid

Tahari / Merona

 

 

Sometimes simple is better! This coral dress by Tahari packs a lot of personality, with a tiny peplum and pleating. I love how it's styled with a little bow belt. This dress is just asking for gold jewelry and shoes! This dress by Merona comes in plenty of colors, and is perfect for cooler climates where you may not want to expose your shoulders. The cut-out detail is a cute touch, and the tie-belt will cinch in your waist.

 

 

#6: Striped

Loft / J.Crew Factory

 

You've made it this far and earned your stripes, why not show it! The cool color scheme of this dress from Loft is bright and fun. I absolutely adore the navy and white stripes on this drop waist dress from J.Crew Factory. Very nautical! I think it would look super cute with a red bubble necklace and espadrille wedges.

 

 

Other Considerations:

 

~ Strapless Dresses: Strapless dresses and I have just never gotten along. Maybe it's because I always have really terrible tan lines, or (more likely) it's because I constantly have to tug the dress up. Strapless dresses are definitely an option if you feel comfortable! Just make sure the fit is right and get alterations or garment tape if need be. Optional: strapless dresses almost always look great with a short strand of pearls!

 

~ Peplums/Full skirts: I love a good peplum as much as the next girl, but under a graduation gown things might get a bit poofy. To avoid unsightly lumps and bumps in your gown caused by excessive peplums and full skirts, stick to A-line, "Fit and Flare," and shift style dresses.

 

~Footwear: Different schools have different requirements. Some schools require heels, some require a certain color shoe (black, for example), and some don't list a preference. Keep this in mind when dress shopping. You don't want to have to worry about toting multiple pairs of shoes to the ceremony. (ie: one pair for pictures and one pair for the actual ceremony.) It's a big day, and the last thing you want to worry about is shoe issues.

 

~How Many Dresses do I Need?: Looking for an excuse to buy another dress because you have an awards ceremony, senior banquet, actual graduation ceremony, and friends' parties? Yeah, me too. Then I realized it would be kind of crazy for me to have three separate dresses, especially since I was splurging on my dress for the actual ceremony. I decided to wear the same dress to the ceremony and my party (because I am absolutely in love with it!), and switch up the jewelry and shoes for each event. I have an awards ceremony as well, and I am wearing a dress I already have. This is a personal choice, but if you can it's always nice to maximize the wear on nicer dresses that you'd only wear once or twice. Then you can splurge and not feel as bad! Switch up the shoes and accessories and you can achieve a different look!

 

I hope this post helped you get some ideas for graduation dresses. If you have any questions or are in need of more specific suggestions, leave a comment below or e-mail me at stylishclassycreative@gmail.com.

 

I can't wait to see your dress choices! Link up posts/pictures in the comments.

 

Cue the Pomp and Circumstance!

 

Stay Stylish, Stay Classy, Be Creative

 

Emily

 

10 Days

10 Days

That's how many days I have left of high school.

I. Can't. Even. Believe. It.

This year has flown. There is no other way to describe it. It seems that every passing year moves along at a faster and faster pace.

I am facing these last 10 days with mixed emotions.

There will be laughs
There will be smiles
There will be tears

I am so ready to move on to the next phase of my life: college. I will be attending the University of Missouri in the fall to study journalism. I am so excited for all of the independence, new experiences, and new relationships that await me. I have already found a roommate and we have begun to plan our decor! I can't wait to take engaging classes with lively and diverse professors, and enrich my life by furthering my education and exposing myself to new experiences.

*********

I am so happy to say that I have really enjoyed my time in high school, but it is definitely not going to be the peak of my life. I formed so many great friendships, took a variety of classes with engaging and insightful teachers, and was presented with many opportunities and experiences that I will never forget. I worked hard and had fun. I am proud of my high school career, and can't wait to carry the successes I have had in high school into college with me.

I am so lucky to have been able to attend a small high school that was like a family. I can't imagine what the last four years would have been like if I hadn't attended Central Catholic. Central has instilled in me the values, faith, smarts, and leadership skills that I need to carry into the future. I have been so lucky to have found a group of friends who share the same values as me and encourage me to make healthy decisions and engage in smart behavior. All of this would have been more difficult at a larger school.

I have been going to school with a majority of the people in my class since Kindergarten. It is so bizarre to think that after graduation day, I may never see some of these people ever again. Our class is a family  and I like to think we all get along pretty well. Sure, everyone has their own friend groups and interests, but when it comes down to it, we definitely have each other's backs.

Walking out of school on May 10th is going to be a unique feeling. We will all be saying goodbye. Goodbye to each other, goodbye to routine, goodbye to familiarity. I'm sure there will be tears shed. Central Catholic has been such a big part of all of our lives. It's hard to say goodbye to something you love and have such fond memories of.

However, May 10th will also be a day of saying hello. Hello to new beginnings, hello to opportunity, hello to new experiences. Yes, there is no "next year" as we have thought about every year of school since Kindergarten. However, there is "the rest of your life." How gratifying is it to know you have your whole life ahead of you? So exciting!

Everyone views these last 10 days as something different

"10 Days until my life is over."
"10 Days until freedom."
"10 Days until crazy summer partying."

I really hope that no one thinks that the next ten days bring the end of their life and happiness. High school is a quick stop on the journey of life. Yes, it's fun, and yes, it may seem like the end all be all. However, life holds many more experiences, joys, and relationships that are deeper and more meaningful than what can be found in high school.

I sincerely hope that most everyone in my class will view the next ten days as something like this:

"10 days until the beginning of the rest of my life."

For many, this can be daunting. Leaving the comforts of your home, friends, school, and family can be scary. The next phase is going to be difficult. Settling in to a new place (for most) is challenging both physically and emotionally. Don't let fear overcome you. Seize every opportunity, live every moment. There will never be another time in your life like it.

So, 10 Days.

I am going to make the next ten days count. The last ten days of riding to school with my sisters, the last ten days of putting on my school uniform in the morning, the last ten days of my mom waking me up for school, the last ten days of eating lunch in the cafeteria with my friends.

Yes, I'm excited, sad, scared, happy, and just about every emotion in between.

10 more days with the best senior class I could ask for definitely yields these kinds of emotions.

It's going to be hard to leave. Central has been such a unique experience.

However, I am confident and ready to move on to the next chapter of life, and welcome it with open arms.

10 more days of high school

10 more days until the beginning of the rest of my life

Stay Stylish, Stay Classy, Be Creative.

Emily