Graduation
Rosie stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She adjusted the straps on her dress and let out a breath as she worked through her valedictorian speech in her mind. She picked up the Q-cards on which she had written her talking points to remind herself of what she was forgetting. After she had remembered her next point, Rosie went into the bathroom and grabbed the necklace she had left on the counter before she showered. She put it on and made sure her makeup and hair looked the way she wanted. She went back into her bedroom and grabbed her shoes from the closet. She slipped the Q-cards into the pocket of her dress before she went downstairs and to the kitchen.
“I’m heading out. I have to be there an hour before you all do,” Rosie said.
Dave and Hunter smiled at her from the table where they were sipping their coffee.
“What?” Rosie asked.
“Just. You look grown up,” Hunter said.
Rosie smiled.
“I can’t believe you are the same girl I found at the lookout in Rocklin only four years ago,” Dave said.
“Daddy,” Rosie said, almost whining. “You are going to make me cry, and I’ll mess up my makeup.”
“I’m sorry, Bambina. Come here,” Dave said, resisting the urge to chuckle as he opened his arms.
Rosie went over and hugged her dad before going over to Papa, who also requested a hug.
“Go on. We will see you at your graduation,” Hunter said.
“Love you both, see you there,” she said before she went to the door. Slipped her shoes on, went out to her car, and drove to the school.
When she got there, she went to the classroom where the caps and gowns were being handed out. She was handed a cap in plastic wrap. That was brand new and hers to keep. She was also handed a gown that she put on first before taking the cap out of the plastic and attaching the unique tassel that she was given special as the valedictorian and put the cap on her head.
“Rosie Rossi is here. We need the valedictorian stole,” Ms. Beck called out.
Mrs. Evans came out of her office and brought it over with a smile. “May I?” she asked.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Rosie said with a smile. Mrs. Evans put it on and secured it properly.
“Thank you,” Rosie said.
“Of course,” Mrs. Evans said. “I’m thinking your parents are probably crazy proud of you.”
“Well. I think they are. But they don’t know I’m valedictorian yet,” Rosie said.
“You didn’t tell them?” Mrs. Evans asked.
“No. I want to surprise my family. Hayley knows, but only because it’s hard to hide it from her when she goes to the same school and everyone talks about it,” Rosie said.
Mrs. Evans nodded with a smile.
“And she has talked about how hard it has been to keep it from your parents,” Noel said from behind her.
Rosie looked back at Noel and smiled. He was in his cap and gown already.
“I will let you two go and find the rest of your friends,” Mrs. Evans said with a smile. “Congrats to you both.”
“Thank you,” they both said before the two teens went out to the area where their friends were already waiting.
“You ready for your speech?” Taylor asked.
Rosie reached under her gown and pulled the cards out from the pocket of her dress and held them up. “As ready as I’m going to be.”
“You’ve seemed pretty chill about it all along,” Noel said.
“Glad I was able to keep up the act,” she said with a smirk.
Noel and Taylor chuckled.
“Public speaking has never been an issue for me,” Rosie said. “But the actual writing of the speech was the part that had me pulling out my hair.”
“I’ve read your speech. It is amazing.” Taylor said.
Rosie smiled. “Thank you.”
“You cave and tell your parents?” Taylor asked.
“Nope,” Rosie said. “I want them to be surprised, is that so wrong?”
“No,” Taylor said with a smile.
Soon, they were all told to get into their seats in the auditorium.
They all went and sat in their seats.
Soon, the auditorium was filled with the families and friends of the graduates, and the ceremony started.
When it came time for the Valedictorian speech, the principal walked up to the podium.
“It is with great honor and pride that I now introduce you to our valedictorian. She is a student who has shown not only her immense intelligence but also her unbelievable kindness to everyone at this school. She is graduating today with a 4.0 GPA and with the honor of being one of two students at this school this year to receive the US. Presidential Scholar award. She has accepted her offer to attend Harvard with a plan to focus on forensic science and law. Rosie Rossi, we are tremendously proud of how much you have grown in the last four years,” Mrs. Evans said.
Rosie got up and walked up to the podium, placing her Q-cards on the stand in front of her and adjusting the microphone to be at her level.
Dave and Hunter looked at each other in shock, asking if the other knew before looking at Hayley, who just had a smirk on her face and was holding her phone up recording it. Dave and Hunter looked back up at their oldest, beaming with pride.
“ Good Afternoon,” Rosie started
“I’m incredibly honoured to be standing here today, to have been given the chance to speak before an amazing group of educators, fellow graduates, students, and families who have come to support myself and all the graduates on this monumental occasion.
A special thank you to the educators who went above and beyond to help me succeed these last four years.
To my friends who have been exceptional in welcoming me to this community from before my very first day.
To my boyfriend Noel, you have been my true rock these last four years. I would never have made it to today without your steady support.
To the people I call family. Thank you for always having an open door to your home when I needed you.
To my grandfather for helping me learn about where I come from and how to honor and protect my inner child.
To my sisters. Hayley, Callie. Madison, Mackenzie, Scarlet, and Kara, who have accepted me as their sister and taught me that blood is not the only way to truly love a sibling, and to My Papa for also accepting me as your daughter.
To both my parents, Dave and Hunter, for being unwaveringly supportive of all my goals and dreams. For teaching me through words and actions how to be the best version of myself.
At the beginning of high school and our education in general, we were both excited and nervous, not sure what to expect, and as this chapter of our lives comes to an end, I feel we are all feeling the same thing. As well as the eagerness to succeed. I can not stand up here today and tell you what you all need to succeed because what we all need is going to look a little different, but what I can share is this quote from Winston Churchill that I heard on the first day of high school from my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Malone. “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” I hope my fellow graduates take that quote and remember that no matter what life throws at us in our endeavors to succeed, we must keep on going and keep on trying.
When I look out at the audience, I see a group of amazingly talented and hardworking individuals. All unique in both their passions, their histories, their interests, and talents, but one thing I think we all share is the eagerness to make our mark on the world and try and make it better for ourselves, our loved ones, and future generations. And as my fellow graduates and I step away from the protective walls of this school and attempt to make our marks on the world, I hope we all remember not only what we have all learned or accomplished in the walls of this amazing educational institution. But also remember every time we have laughed with our friends in the cafeteria during lunch. Every time, we have been shocked and amazed by productions put on by the drama department. Every time we have been on pins and needles watching our football team bring us to a win, and every school event in between. I even hope we remember the less positive moments. Because every moment of our lives up to this point, good or bad, has shaped us into who we are, and what I see in front of me today is a group of well-rounded, well-learned, and well-prepared students ready to take on the world.
Senior year is full of lasts: last homecoming, last prom, last high school final, last time eye rolling at Mr. Darvis' corny jokes, and the last time walking in these halls. Each of these lasts paves the way for a series of firsts, no matter where we go, please let these firsts set our place in history and as author and poet, Marshall Bruce Mathers III said, “If you had one shot, or one opportunity; To seize everything you ever wanted; One moment would you capture it or just let it slip?”
In closing. We will always be the graduating class of 2015 from this amazing school and because of this we will always be connected and if we can remember that life isn’t measured by money or failure but rather by the connections we form with others, we will all be in for successful lives filled with plenty of special monumental moments like today.
Thank you, and go Lions,” she finished as the crowd cheered.
Dave and Hunter both stood up, starting a standing ovation as Rosie walked back to her seat and let out a breath. It was done.
After the speech, the ceremony of each student walking up and receiving their diploma and shaking hands of the few members of staff happened.
When it was finished. Everyone went to find their families.
Rosie went to hers with a smile on her face.
They all hugged her tight, telling her how proud they were of her.
“How did you manage to keep this from us?” Dave asked, nodding to her valedictorian stole.
“Very carefully?” Rosie said with a chuckle. “I wanted it to be a surprise. And thank you, Hayley, for helping me keep it.”
“Of course,” Hayley said with a smile.
“So unbelievably proud of you,” Hunter said, pulling her into another hug and kissing her head.
“Thank you, Papa,” Rosie said, hugging him again.
Noel came over with his family, and both groups congratulated the other graduate.
“Noel never mentioned you were valedictorian,” Mrs. Shephard said.
“Yes. That is because I didn’t tell them,” Rosie said, nodding to her parents.“ And the fewer people who knew, the easier it was for them to not find out. So I asked him not to tell anyone.”
“Aah,” Mrs. Shepherd said.
“Noel, you got the same Presidential award as Rosie. You both should be so proud of yourselves,” Dave said.
Noel and Rosie looked at each other and smiled.
“We are,” Noel said.
Pierce came over at that point with Taylor.
“Congrats, you two,” Pierce said. “And damn Rosie you kept valedictorian to yourself?”
Rosie chuckled. “I mean Noel, Taylor, and Hayley knew.”
“And no one told me?” Pierce asked, faking hurt feelings
“She made me promise not to tell anyone,” Hayley said.
“Same,” Taylor said.
“I knew she wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn’t say anything,” Noel said.
They all talked for a while longer, and lots of pictures were taken of the graduates with their families. As they were finishing up, Dave looked at the group, reminding them of the party at their place before everyone headed off with their families to head that way.
When she got home, the first thing Rosie did was take off her shoes and went and took them and her cap up to her room. She pinned the tassel onto her memory board before there was a knock on her bedroom door.
“I’ll be down in just a minute,” Rosie said.
“Okay,” Hunter said before he went back downstairs.
Rosie went back downstairs and joined the party.
*****
That evening, after everyone had gone home. Rosie went upstairs to grab her keys to take her grandfather to the airport. He had flown down the night before and was going home later that night. Becca’s graduation had been the week before, and she was on a trip with her friends as a graduation gift to herself.
There was a knock on her door.
“Yeah?” Rosie said
Kele went into the room. He had a box in his hands
“What’s that?” Rosie asked.
“Sit,” Kele said.
Rosie sat down on her bed and looked at him.
“Becca and I went through the house in Rocklin. Got it cleaned up. As you know, when she turns eighteen, it’s hers,” Kele said.
Rosie nodded.
“But we found things that belonged to Bianca. I’m guessing Beatrice got them along with her remains,” Kele said.
“Yeah. Everything was to go to her. I don’t know why, given that they weren’t close, but I guess given your relationship with her, Beatrice was the only other family she had,” Rosie said.
“Probably,” Kele said. “But these were your mother’s,” he said handing her the box.
Rosie put the box on her bed and opened it to see a pile of books with locks on them.
“I remember her always writing in journals like this. I figured they might give you a glimpse into your mother's life,” Kele said.
Rosie let out a breath. “They are all locked.”
“I bet you can figure out how to unlock them. I didn’t find anything that looked like a key that would fit,” Kele said.
“Okay,” Rosie said with a nod.
“You okay?” Kele asked.
“Yes. Just surprised,” Rosie said.
The two hugged before getting up and heading out to the airport.