"Last Day as an Eight Grader"

Waking up to the sound of the radio going off, I realize what today is. It's the day of reflection, it's the day of remembrance, it's a day to move on, it's my Last Day as an Eight Grader. Which also meant, Eight Grade Graduation. May 30, 2008, 7:50 am, is when it will all start.

As I am getting ready to head to school, I imagine what it's going to be like. All family, friends, and old classmates gathered to watch a class recivce their dipolmas and graduate. As I arrive at school, I look in the hall, where we all gather before heading to our classes, and realize, it's only one more week from this day that I am going to be graduating from my Elementary and Middle School that I have been at for nine years. Thinking to myself, how am I going to be able to handle this? Graduating, heading off to high school, leaving all my friends. My whole life has been at this school and no other.

Now as we head up to our classes, I walk through the hallways remembering all of the memories. Passing by the classes that I have been in, learning, having fun, throwing surprise parties for my teachers, everything that has happen in those classes. Already, I am starting to tear up, but as I look up, I'm not alone. I see my friend, Kimberly Eder, my number one friend, the one that has been with me all my years at this school, crying. Crying tears that I have never seen her cry before. As I look at her, I can tell that these aren't normal tears. They are tears of joy and sad. The one thing I remember her saying that I will never forget, "Are we going to be best friends forever?" When she said that, I looked at her, straight face with tears coming down,"Always!," was all I could say. When we walked into the classroom, I looked around, seeing everyone having fun, laughing, and all I could think of is, "I hope we will be friends forever."

When I saw that clock read 7:50 am, I knew it was time. As the school all gathered for assembly, tears started to form again. Thinking to my self, this is my last school assembly, my last time I am going to be standing in this hall, with the whole school. When flag was done, our principal, Ms. Kauhane, asked the school to be seated and for the eight grade class to come up to the stage. As we approached the stage, Ms. Kauhane explained to the school that today was the last day for the eight graders. When we were lined up on the stage, our social studies and religion teacher, Mr.Pa'ekakui, started to play his guitar. We started to sing our class song,"Love is Patience." This song has been with our class since the sixth grade.

As we were singing, I looked out and saw all the faces that I have seen for a year and some, more. The one face that stood out for me, was my friend Pomai. She has been like my little sister ever since she first came she to Cathedral, she was in kindergarten and I was in first grade. Once I saw her face, seeing her cry, I started to cry even more. She has been my little sister, for eight years. How am I suppose to leave her? She has always made me happy whenever I was down. She was my little cheerer upper. She was the one I could count on to always be there for me.

Once we were done singing, Ms. Kauhane came up to the mic again. This time she was talking about our class and how this class was different from all the others. Thinking back to all the other classes, I realized, we where a different class. Our class, was very out there. We were friends with all the classes, helped out everyone, and we always helped out with First Friday Masses. When Ms. Kauhane started talking about our class theme, which was "Swim", the six grade class came out with floaties for the whole class, now that put a smile on my face.

When everything was done, the speech, the ceremony, Ms. Kauhane said the final words that just made me cry. "Now let's all say good bye to the Class of 2008." Now I knew I wasn't ready to leave this Elementary/Middle School that I have been at for nine years. As everything is all done, we start saying our good byes to everyone and more tears are formed every second. As I say good bye to everyone, I knew that even though I didn't want to leave, I still had no choice and it was time to move on. Like everyone says, " You can't stay young forever. even though you want to."

As I leave the school, I look back at the school, memories and tears appear on my face. My whole life has been at this school, no other. Now going to Moanalua High School was a big change in my life, something I was not ready for, but with God on my side, I knew that everything would be alright.