My+memoir-Allie

Allie's Memoir By: Allie Brieske

I don't know why, but when humans don't see something, they don't think of how great it is. When someone says, " I wonder what 1 million dollars looks like?" they don't really think about the amazement of it really. I had this feeling when I went to my cousin's graduation. It is something to strive for and work hard for but I hadn't really thought about the greatness of a graduation. I saw the greatness of this event there.

It was in Missoula, Montana. My cousin Tessa went to Big Sky High school where all my parents went. The whole family was at the graduation. My aunt Lynn was there and my Aunt Shirley. Uncle Sid, and Aunt Margaret were there too. Finally, Tessa's parents Uncle Buddy and Aunt Nancy were there. I remember how much fun we had before the graduation. We were talking and laughing and having a great time enjoying talking. jaunt Lynn, wanted to harness the energy (for some weird reason) by giving us assigned seats. "Everybody, are you in your assigned seats?" she would holler. " What assigned seats?" we exclaimed back.

Aunt Lynn was a control freak like that some times and I will never forget that about her. When the graduation started, we all quieted down and sat in our seats. The first person to speak was the student body president. He talked about how close they were as an immense group and the glut of activities they did together from science to soccer. He made hilarious jokes about Chuck Norris, which he explained happened on every announcement. "Chuck Norris can kill an ant with a magnifying glass…at night!" he announced. We all laughed like a pack off hyenas reading a joke book!

Following that speech was another that dug deep inside of me. This time, one of the science teachers was talking. He said," This is nerve racking because the person that was suppose to be doing this is Joe Biden." We were all shocked because he was very important and we didn’t expect that. He talked so much about the amazing kids he had met. He was a teacher that Tessa respected a lot. He was a teacher that Tessa respected a lot. He talked about their successes and failures but how they always worked together. My favorite part of his speech was when he said, "I love… kung fu movies!!!" We were all bewildered and confused but listened as he continued his story. " I love them because they are like life itself. Before you can become the most powerful ninja in the world, you have to work for it. It will not just get handed to you. I thought about this speech long and hard because at first, it was hard to understand. Now I get, he meant nothing in life would get handed to you because success will never be free. After that, it was time for the graduates to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. This was by far, my favorite part of the graduation. The principals would call names and the soon-to-be-graduates would walk across the stage and shake the principals' hands. When I saw Tessa go up, I could picture myself walking across the stage. I was so ecstatic because this was the moment I wanted to see the most. It symbolized the amazement of a graduation. Then, we went outside to congratulate Tessa on her achievement. She had necklaces strung around her neck like a royal princess in a magnificent palace. They all were connected to the year she graduated. She got one with 20 10-dollar bills to symbolize 2010. After seeing this amazing event, a graduation, it made me want to strive. This moment proved that to believe the greatness of something, it helps to see it. This was an amazing experience I will never forget. And remember, success will never be free!!!