The Final Stretch

It’s May and we’re in the final stretch.

In August 2009, as we prepared for Chelsea’s senior year of high school, I was pretty sure that the school year would fly by and the months of August to June would pass in the blink of an eye.

I was wrong. Very wrong.

This time around I knew better. We buckled down last August and prepared for what we knew would be a roller coaster ride of activity and emotion during Sam’s senior year.

We were prepared this time for a school year full of checklists, applications, emails, essays, references, auditions, interviews & performances. All of that, of course, in addition to school.

The months go by with the highs of anticipation for what lies ahead in acceptance letters and opportunities, and the lows of not wanting this to end, and the fear of rejection and what the future holds.

Stress rises with approaching deadlines and requests for essay after essay after essay. And more school work. And crazy-busy schedules.

Melancholy joins stress and anticipation when the students realize that their “community” at school among peers and teachers will soon be gone. The familiar will soon be in the past and, ironically, part of them doesn’t want it to end.

And so we begin the month of May, still trudging through the anticipation, stress and melancholy.  The cap & gown have arrived and while the month’s calendar is chocker-blocked, there is an end in sight.

Prom (after-prom party’s at our house!..**yawn**); AP exams; final performances; end of year concerts and recitals; awards ceremonies; a list of lasts; lots of reminiscing, tears & hugs.

 So we are hanging on tight in this final stretch, remembering to savor the moments and enjoy the memories.

Doubling the red in our wardrobes.

 And putting off that whole mix of emotions that comes in the next couple of months.