I AM A JUNIOR HIGH "MOVER", EVERYBODY!

(OTHERWISE TITLED)

"LOVE AND GRATITUDE"

Ah, April. It's around now that everybody that's graduating and finishing their school years. For us tenth graders, the word "graduation" is kind of like a disappointment. I mean, time and time again I have heard whining and complaints like "If there wasn't that K-12 curriculum, I would be graduating already" or "I'm supposed to be in college! They had to add a pre-college as well?" or even "It's not  supposed to be Grade 10, it's Fourth Year", among all others.

I won't lie, I really was anticipating a high school graduation for March 2017, but lo and behold, it has been postponed for two years, due to the K-12 curriculum. Two more years of high school! Two more years of waiting! Two more years until graduation!

So, when I heard about a "Moving Up Ceremony" taking place, I furrowed my brow. "Moving Up Ceremony? It isn't even a real graduation!" thought I. My argument was that, if we were just moving up from one grade level to another, would that not be like any other Recognition Day?

Then I thought. "Oh yeah, junior high and senior high. We're going to move from being jittery teenagers to teenagers who know what they want to do in life. From edgy basketcases to refined young women and men. High school to almost-college-but-not-quite.

Yeah, I should probably stop torturing myself with the word "almost."

Anyways, I told my mom about the moving up ceremony, and she was surprisingly cool with it. I thought she'd think things like "it's not even a real graduation, so you should stay home." No, she wasn't like that at all. In fact, she seemed to look forward to it so much that she went on leave from work just to watch the moving up ceremony. Thanks, Mom!

Even though I'd really rather sleep and eat, I thought: "This only ever happens once." So, I decided to go. Besides, it would be great to see Annwen and Cleo again, and get together with my classmates and batchmates one last time before junior high ends and some of us will have to go.

Sml for X - SME! (or ERX FAM, as we call ourselves)

Saranghaeyo!

After just two days of practices (should I mention that I was late for both? HAHAHAHAHA), we finally arrived at the day of the moving up ceremony. Finally, after hours of being scolded by the sisters for singing songs out tune, and countless times that we had to repeat standing and sitting just because we all wouldn't do it at once, we finally get to march.

Not a "graduation" march, mind you, but a "moving up" march!

So, back to the ceremony. My parents and I made sure to arrive early because I can't afford to be late again (because, well, I was late for the previous practices). We were told the evening before of our facebook group to proceed to our classrooms to have our hair ribbons tied---just a clean, white ribbon around our ponytails. I still had my ribbon from my sixth grade graduation (quite the sentimental, aren't I?), so instead of getting a new one, I decided to use that instead. I had mom tie my hair and the ribbon for me, and then we went to take pictures!

Afterwards, my parents went to go to the chapel to secure their seats, and I was left to roam around school to my own accord. I went to say hello to the teachers, watch them tie ribbons on my classmates' ponytails, and even stayed for some small talk.

Soon, we had to proceed to the St. Martin's Court; which is an open court in the center of the grade school classrooms, where we had to assemble. Not long after, we were already lining up to march into the chapel. We were lined up in twos, and I was paired with a girl named Nicole. The piano started playing, and the line went shorter and shorter, until it was finally our turn. We had to walk slowly to keep the solemnity of the occasion, until we reached the altar, bowed, and walked to our respective seating arrangements.

My parents were taking pictures and videos all the way, but had to stop for a bit because the mass started.

From the homily~

Of course, they still took pictures every now and then, like this little tidbit from the homily. First, Father congratulated us on our moving up to Grade 11. Since we are not graduates, the term for us would be "completers," but father decided to call us "movers" instead, hence the title of this post. gave us a little motivational boost, comparing us to pencils and erasers. We "write" our own stories, and it's not too late to fix and "erase" mistakes. We have to choose to write our own great stories, and always, always have confidence in ourselves and our abilities. Like in the picture above, "what matters most is how you see yourself."

Not kidding, I had to raise my chin a little. Father's homily gave me further courage, strength, and confidence in myself.

So the mass went on.

Thanks, mom! For capturing this little thing just right after communion.

Then, the mass ended, and we proceeded with the moving up ceremony. First, we had opening remarks from Bianca, the Grade 10 Level President, followed by a re-reading of our class history from Fritz, Boy City Mayor of 2016. Then, we received our certificates of completion.

It was a slow process, with each of us one by one receiving our certificates. To keep the occasion formal, applauses were limited only to the first person and the last person called. A good thing too, or else all of us would probably keep laughing throughout the ceremony.

When the girl in front of me was called to receive her certificate, I was shaking. "Here it goes," I thought, "One step closer to my future." Finally, I heard Ms. Merlina Patingo, my school's academic coordinator, call out my full name. 

"Marie Julienne Lindsey Azárraga Cruz"

I took a deep breath and walked up the altar, accepted my certificate with love with gratitude from Sr. Aremar Grantos, RA; my school's chairperson, and shook her hand. Then, I made my way back to my seat.

While I walked, I examined my certificate and smiled. "I'm almost there," I thought. 

Not going to lie. I almost typed "diploma," but you know something? I am quite consolated by the fact that, with our certificates of completion, that marks another year down. Two more to go!

After the last name was called, there was a round of applause. Afterwards, Annie, the school year's student council president, gave the closing speech. To close the ceremony, we sang the Assumption school song, and the Assumpta Est Maria; a song usually sang by graduates of Assumption at the end of their graduation ceremony. Then, we marched out of the chapen to be greeted by our families, friends, and loved ones.

Nope, none of us cried, it is not really graduation, after all. I could not help but feel a little wistful, though. I mean, a lot of us will be transferring next school year, and if last year's batch was any indication, only a handful of us will be left.

On the other hand, I don't think I want to leave Assumption just yet, which is one of the good things about K-12. I get to stay just a bit longer, and I don't have to say goodbye to most of my batchmates yet, who I have grown so close to in the past seven years of my schooling in Assumption.

A MESSAGE TO MY BATCHMATES

We're almost there! Kapit lang, all. Just a little more sacrifices and all-nighters, and we will finally have the graduation we've all been waiting for! I know we've had our ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses, laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, heartwarming moments and heartbreaking times, but we went through years of all that as one. Now, as we move from one part of high school to another, let us all remember the times we have shared, and say thanks. Thanks, for the memories and everything we have experienced as one batch.

There is a saying in our school: "Love and Gratitude." It can mean thanks, and it can also mean goodbye. For all intents and purposes, I always choose the meaning "thanks." After all, it is never a definite "goodbye," rather, it is more like a "see you later."

So, Love and Gratitude, Assumption Iloilo Grade 10 Batch 2016-2017. Donec iterum conveniant; until we meet again.