Graduation
by Katie
**********
Finally, high school was over, Jessie
thought as she walked the halls of Upton Sinclair High School for the last time. High
school had started out rough for her but after meeting and falling head over heels in love
with Katie, everything was looking brighter.
Graduation was about to start and she was going over her notes, just to make sure she
wasn't going to mess it up. She was graduating at the top of her class, with a straight
4.0 and therefore she was giving her commencement speech as the class of 2005's
valedictorian. Jessie decided to sit down and try to relax. Her hands were all clammy
because of how nervous she was so she began to try to dry them off by rubbing them against
the bottom of her dress. The dress was a pinkish floral that had spaghetti straps and went
to a little bit above her knees. Katie had helped pick it out, saying that the dress
looked absolutely amazing, especially on Jessie. Jessie just closed her eyes and a smile
began to come over her face. She couldn't believe that she had found someone as special
and amazing as Katie. Jessie couldn't stop thinking about Katie and how awesome it will be
when they both go to Oxford in the fall. Jessie was going on a full academic scholarship
and would be majoring in medicine. Katie was going on a transfer scholarship and she would
be majoring in history and economics/business.
By now, everyone pretty much knew that Jessie was a lesbian and that she and Katie were in
love. Most of her classmates were accepting, but there were still those few that still
didn't agree with their relationship. Still, Katie and Jessie remained strong and didn't
care if people didn't agree with them or their relationship, they knew what they had was
magic and wonderful, so it didn't matter.
"Hey Jess…JESS? You might want to wake up, you've got a speech to make,"
Grace said in a soft voice, trying not to totally startle her little stepsister.
Jessie quickly woke up and jerked a little. "Oh, thanks Grace. I can't believe I just
dosed off. I'm so nervous I haven't been able to sleep since last week."
"It's ok, I know there's a lot riding on this speech and everything, but just relax
and do your best," Grace stated in a nurturing mom, public speaker kind of way.
"Thanks for your support Grace, I'm so glad that we've become such good friends over
the years." Jessie now had small streams of tears coming down her cheeks.
"Oh come on Jess, pull it together you have to give your speech."
"I know I just don't know what I would have done without you." "I'm
so glad that we've become close and I too don't know what I would have done without your
support and friendship, especially when Mr. Dimitri was still here." Now Grace was
starting to cry.
"Oh Grace, look at us. We're a mess. Come on, I have a speech to make." Jessie
wiped her eyes and grabbed Grace's hand to help her up.
Grace departed from Jessie and made her way to the auditorium, where the ceremony was to
take place. She joined Rick and Lily, Karen and Henry, Eli, and Zoë and took a seat. The
auditorium was filling up quickly. Pretty soon, Katie entered the building, but she didn't
sit with the rest of the Sammler/Manning gang. Instead she leaned against the side
auditorium wall so she had a perfect view of the podium where soon her girlfriend would be
giving her speech. Katie still had no idea what Jessie's speech was going to say, Jess
wouldn't let her near the speech, saying it was a surprise. The band stopped playing and
the principal stood up and went to the podium.
"Welcome everyone to Upton Sinclair High School's 2005 graduation ceremony. Today is
a day that will stand out to all of these amazing kids for the rest of their lives.
Without further ado, let me introduce this year's class valedictorian, Jessie Sammler.
With her cue, Jessie smiled, took a deep breath, and made her way to the podium, note
cards in hand. Throughout the speech, everyone was just in pure awe, especially Rick,
Lily, Karen, Henry, Eli, Grace, and Zoë. Jessie's speech talked about how love can make
everything so much better and how you shouldn't care what other people think, just be who
you are and be the best person you can be. Katie stood there, just thinking how amazing
her girlfriend was, then Jessie closed her speech with something that truly touched Katie
and made her, as well as the rest of the audience, start to cry in how much Jessie's words
meant and how true they were.
"…I know that most of you here tonight know about my private life and for those
of you who don't let me fill you in. I, Jessie Elizabeth Sammler, am I love with a former
student named Katie Singer and we are in love. Now, for those of you who don't know me are
probably wondering well, what does this have to do with graduation. Well, to answer that,
here it goes… Pure love is something not everyone will be able to feel and experience
in their lifetime. For the past two years I've had the honor of experiencing something
that's out of this world. That love helped me get through all the ups and downs of being
in high school. I just think that sometimes things happen between people that you don't
really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the
weirdest or the most wrong, and those are the things that change your life. High school is
hard, especially if you don't have someone to help you get through it. Don't ever
compromise yourself and what you feel and believe just to try to fit in because if you are
yourself and are the best person you can be, people will notice that and respond. Thank
you and congrats to my fellow classmates, you guys, WE MADE IT!"
And with that, Jessie made her way back to her seat. The whole audience was applauding and
crying at the same time. They couldn't help it. Katie just stood there, so proud of her
extraordinary girlfriend. Tears were running down her face and she couldn't wait until the
ceremony was over with so she could run up to Jessie and sweep her off her feet. After the
crowd seemed to settle down and stop blowing their noses, the principal went back up to
the microphone.
"And now, let me introduce the graduating class of 2005." Slowly all of the
students began filling the stage to receive their diplomas.
"…Jessie Elizabeth Sammler." As Jessie made her way across the stage, the
cheers and applauds were amazing. Eli, Henry, and Rick stood up and whistled.
Grace and Zoë cheered, "Go Jessie!"
Karen and Lily just sat there, balling their eyes out, so proud of Jessie.
As Jessie walked down the side steps off the stage, Katie, who was just smiling away,
greeted her.
"Oh my God Jess, that was amazing," Katie said as she pulled Jessie in and
kissed her.
"You really liked it? I was so nervous that I probably stuttered the whole
time."
"Did I like it?!?! Oh course I did! Hell, the whole audience did! I love you
Billie." With that, Katie picked Jessie up started spinning her around, so completely
happy and in love.
"I love you too Katie." The two stared into each other's eyes and leaned in for
a tender kiss.
"HEY JESSIE!" The whole gang said at once. Katie and Jessie turned to see the
family coming towards them. Katie took a position behind Jessie, with her arms wrapped
around Jess. They both smiled.
"Hi you guys. Well, I made it! Oxford here we come," Jessie exclaimed as she
tilted her head around to see Katie's beautiful face and smiled.