Victor Navarro
Gaylene B. Croker
English 101
25 September 2012
Graduation
It all started my senior year at Pacifica High School. I
was behind 5 credits with 3 Fs and only 3 weeks until Graduation. I remember as
they were calling people in to the counselor’s office to inform students they
will not graduate, I prayed to not be called down there. I remember I was so
nervous every time I saw Office Aides walking into my classroom with yellow
slips. Until one day, an office aide walked in with a yellow slip and handed it
to my teacher. My teacher called out “Victor Navarro”, my heart had dropped. I was
very afraid; I couldn’t stand up to get my slip, so the teacher brought it to
my desk and said I was excused.
As I was walking down the hall of F building; I kept
wishing it was just a dream and soon I would wake up, I was wrong. I walked
through the quad, I remember seeing a couple friends hanging out and one of
them called to me, “Hey Victor! Where are you going?”, I responded, “To the
counselor’s office”. I saw the face expression he made as I kept walking. As I opened
the doors to the counseling office, I remember there being quite a few people;
so I took my seat and waited for my name to be called. I felt many emotions at
once! I was scared, nervous, worried, and also anxious; I did not know what to
think! Once she called my name, I walked in and took my seat.
“You
are behind 5 credits and currently failing 3 classes”, I remember her saying. I
responded, “I know, I’ve been stressing lately”. She asked me what was wrong
and I said “I have a lot of homework but never have time to do it because of
soccer”. She told me the best thing to do is to forget soccer for a while and
focus on school because I still have a chance to get my grades up in time for
graduation. My heart dropped. I asked myself; did she really just tell me to
quit soccer? Soccer is my life!
When
I got home that same day, I told my parents everything that had happened. They told
me they know soccer is a big part in my life, but suggested I should consider
what my counselor had told me, to quit soccer. I couldn’t believe it at first,
but then it came to me; I should think about my future! I thought it all out
and decided it was best for me to focus on school first and make it my
priority. I finally decided; school first, soccer later.
The
next day I went to my teachers in which I was failing their class and asked if I
can do any make-up work. They all said there was and handed it to me. All the
work combined was so much; it wouldn’t fit in my backpack! But that didn’t stop
me. When I got home that day, the first thing I did was going into my room and
locking it. I was determined to finish all the make-up work. I remember my
cousin telling me I was a failure, that I would never do it, and that I would
not graduate. This upset me and made me feel like giving up. Until one day, my
older brother, Jonathan, told me it was possible and he believed in me. I could
not give up now!
As
the days went by, and graduation came closer, I was very nervous to find out if
I would graduate and walk the line with my classmates.
A
week before graduation, I was in class doing my work when suddenly the door
opened and came in an office aide, I was nervous. “Victor Navarro”, I heard my
teacher say. I stood up, grabbed my pass, and walked off to the counseling
office. There were few people, therefore it did not take long for my counselor
to call me in. I walked in and took my seat, and waited for the news she had
for me. “You did it!” I heard her say, “You got your grades up and you are
actually ahead 5 credits”. A million emotions of joy came through my body; I
was graduating!
I
felt very relieved, all my hard work paid off. As I walked home, I could not
wait to tell my parents. As I broke the news to them, they were very proud of
me.
Graduation
day came and I remember being the happiest person there. All my friends were
surprised, yet happy that I made it. As soon as everyone started walking into
the football stadium, I was nervous! But I walked with pride. I saw thousands
of people in the standing cheering all my classmates as we walked to our seats.
When
they were calling names out, I couldn’t believe I actually made it. I heard my
cousin’s name called and saw him walking up to get his diploma. I was more
nervous than ever! I would be called very soon. As they called my name, I walked
up the steps to receive my diploma when I heard many of my classmates
screaming, “yeah Victor! Woohoo!” I laughed a little and continued to walk up
to receive my diploma. I was very ecstatic once I got there! I now believed I made
it, my hard work had paid off.
I
will never forget this experience. I now believe I can accomplish anything if I
set myself up to do it. I also learned that no matter how many people try
putting me down, telling me I won’t succeed; I WILL SUCCEED. Nothing in life is
impossible.
