By: Khaliya Rajan
One by one,
Diplomas are handed out like trophies.
Tassels switch sides like pendulums.
Pins placed on blazers,
Like a soft sweater on the dresser.
Back to their seats
For the last time.
A phase of life
Ending for each student—
The future has finally arrived.
Moving on
From high school,
On to the bigger world.
Bright futures,
Bright eyes,
Bright smiles.
The square hats are released,
Thrown into the air,
Dancing like the kids did in PE
Before falling back to the floor,
Like they did at recess.
Kids living big,
Imagining endless possibilities
Before they grew up,
Yanked back to reality.
Family and friends clap,
Parents bawl- proud and worried.
The graduates have reached the finish line,
cut the red ribbon.
The world awaits.
They walk out hands clutching their diplomas
Like they are their
big wishes,
big dreams,
big plans.