Page 242 - 1986.Millard.North

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Final Steps Bring Unspoken Unity

t wasn't real. There were speeches meant just for us and, away. Applause from both fellow graduates and
For so many years we worked for this night, for some reason, that made them different from friends and family was heard as each name was
this single ceremony that indicated so much. any other graduation speeches we had ever called, and the smiles that were shown by each
And yet, as we paraded around in our bright blue heard, or ever would hear. Class President Jana graduate were very real. Finally, reality had
robes and awkward caps, it seemed as if it were Schmidt began with an interpretation of the class broken through. The look of accomplishment on
only a rehearsal. Complaints about the heat, the of 1986 "Five Keys" and then Amy Womack each face was yet another unifying factor, as the
stiff collars on the girls' robes, the long, long brought in the world of the stage in "Before the work of thirteen years of school was finally worth
wait...class unity was expressed only in the desire Curtain Opens." Next, Kathy Kautz and Laurel it.
to want to get on with the ceremony. Cheers were Thiel jointly presented " Remembering the Past, And then, again, were the notes of "Pomp
heard as the first row was led out of the Civic Building the Future." Kris Howard and Beca and Circumstance." The class of 1986 was
Auditorium basement and up the ramps to the Solberg finished with " A Moment of Infinite finished with high school and ready for different
floor entrance. There we stood again, waiting. It Value" and "Tragic Victory" respectively. things. The recessional was quick and a little
did not seem much different from the hectic Graduating seniors who were members of disorganized, but no one cared. We were finally
rehearsal held after the senior breakfast two days concert choir got one last chance to perform as finished. Flashbulbs were going off from every
earlier. the choir sang "Always," written for graduation direction as friends posed together for perhaps
And then the orchestra struck up the first by Anne Graham, and "Yearnings," by John the last time, teachers were busy handling the
notes of "Pomp and Circumstance." The song Carter. hectic process of distributing diplomas and
was a familiar one and yet entirely different, for The cereJ11ony continued with the presenta- collecting caps .and gowns, greetings were shout-
it was being played for us. After all those years tion of scholarships. Only those scholarships ed as people were reunited ... we were finally
of waiting, preparing, anticipating, we were to accepted were presented, but a complete listing finished.
suddenly march in aAd take our places. of scholarships earned was included in the The reality would not really sink in until the
And so we did. Feelings ranged from program. In total, 105 students were offered 202 next day, or the next, or the next, but that was
excitement to anxiety to fear to just emptiness. schQJarships . not important. It was our time to shine, our night.
We were all together for one last time, and cliques And then came the grand finale, the moment Our last chance to show what we could do. And
were forgotten as we sat next to the people who the entire class had been waiting for-the we did. Without a doubt, we did.
we'd known for years. There we were--all 386 of presentation of diplomas. For some it seemed to
us--supporting each other. take forever; for others the moments slipped

Anticipation lights up the face of Lori Netzel as she and
Stephanie Nelson look for their places in the auditorium.
(photo by 5. Sartin)
The senior breakfast was a chance to get together wtth Seniors were given a chance to write songs for commence·
friends, have yearbooks signed, and enjoy being served by
~ ment. Anne Graham's "Always" was chosen and graduating
juniors. Michelle Sanderson, Debbie Snyder, and Deana Davis
choir members got their last chance to sing with the rest of
238 Graduation find time to share memories. (photo by A. Minear) the concert choir. (photo by 5. Sartin)