TextBBittersweetMemoriesKarenOdemHigh school graduation -the bittersweet feelings are as much apart of me now as they were twenty-one years ago.2As graduation day approached, excitement increased. Being outof high school meant Iwas finally coming of age.SoonI would be onmy own,making my own decisions,doing what I wanted withoutsomeone looking over my shoulder and it meant going to school withboys-a welcome change comingfrom an all-girl high schoolV
Bittersweet Memories Karen Odem 1 High school graduation — the bittersweet feelings are as much a part of me now as they were twenty-one years ago. 2 As graduation day approached, excitement increased. Being out of high school meant I was finally coming of age. Soon I would be on my own, making my own decisions, doing what I wanted without someone looking over my shoulder and it meant going to school with boys-a welcome change coming from an all-girl high school. Text B
TextB3There was never any question in my mind that I would go to acollege away from home. My mother's idea, on the other hand, wasjust the opposite.Trying her best not to force her preferences on me,she would subtly ask whetherIhad considered particular schools-allofwhich happened tobe located in or nearmyhometown of Chicago.Once it was established that, as long as it was financially feasible,Iwould be going away anyway, my family's perspective changed.Their concern shifted from whetherI was going away to how far.TheschoolsI was considering on the East Coast suddenlylooked muchmoreattractivethanthoseinCaliforniaK
3 There was never any question in my mind that I would go to a college away from home. My mother's idea, on the other hand, was just the opposite. Trying her best not to force her preferences on me, she would subtly ask whether I had considered particular schools-all of which happened to be located in or near my hometown of Chicago. Once it was established that, as long as it was financially feasible, I would be going away anyway, my family's perspective changed. Their concern shifted from whether I was going away to how far. The schools I was considering on the East Coast suddenly looked much more attractive than those in California. Text B
TextBBut which college I would attend was just one of what seemedlike a never-ending list of unknowns:What would college be like?Would I be unbearably lonely not knowing anyone else who wasgoing to the same school? Would the other students like me? WouldI make friends easily? Would I miss my family so much thatIwouldn't be able to stand it? And what about the work-would I beable to keep up? (Being an A student in high school seemed to offerlittle assurance I would be able to survive college.) What if thecollege I selected turned out to be a horrible mistake? Would I beabletotransfertoanotherschool?K
4 But which college I would attend was just one of what seemed like a never-ending list of unknowns: What would college be like? Would I be unbearably lonely not knowing anyone else who was going to the same school? Would the other students like me? Would I make friends easily? Would I miss my family so much that I wouldn't be able to stand it? And what about the work-would I be able to keep up? (Being an A student in high school seemed to offer little assurance I would be able to survive college.) What if the college I selected turned out to be a horrible mistake? Would I be able to transfer to another school? Text B
TextB5Then panic set in. My feelings took a 180-degree turn. I reallydidn't want to leave high school at all, and it was questionablewhether I wanted to grow up after all. It had been nice beingrespected as a seniorbythe underclass students for the pastyear;Ididn't enjoy the idea of being on the bottom rung of the ladder again6Despite months of anticipation, nothing could have prepared mefor the impact of the actual day.As the familiar strains of"Pomp andCircumstance" echoed in the background, I looked around at theother figures in white capsand gowns as wesolemnly filed into theauditorium.Tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes,K
5 Then panic set in. My feelings took a 180-degree turn. I really didn't want to leave high school at all, and it was questionable whether I wanted to grow up after all. It had been nice being respected as a senior by the underclass students for the past year; I didn't enjoy the idea of being on the bottom rung of the ladder again. 6 Despite months of anticipation, nothing could have prepared me for the impact of the actual day. As the familiar strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" echoed in the background, I looked around at the other figures in white caps and gowns as we solemnly filed into the auditorium. Tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes, Text B
TextBand I was consumed by a rush of sadness. As if in a daze, I rose frommyseat whenIheardmynamecalled and slowlycrossedthestagetoreceive my diploma. AsI reached out my hand, I knew that I wasreaching not just for a piece of paper but for a brand-new life. Excitingas the prospect of a new life seemed, it wasn't easy saying good-byeto the old one-the familiar faces, the familiar routine.I would evenmiss that chemistry class I wasn't particularly fond of and the longcommute each day between home and school that I abhorred.Goodor bad, it was what I knewK
and I was consumed by a rush of sadness. As if in a daze, I rose from my seat when I heard my name called and slowly crossed the stage to receive my diploma. As I reached out my hand, I knew that I was reaching not just for a piece of paper but for a brand-new life. Exciting as the prospect of a new life seemed, it wasn't easy saying good-bye to the old one-the familiar faces, the familiar routine. I would even miss that chemistry class I wasn't particularly fond of and the long commute each day between home and school that I abhorred. Good or bad, it was what I knew. Text B