Graduation is so weird.

When it comes to graduation, whether it is high school or college, everyone always talks about the excitement of moving on and starting a new chapter, but nobody ever talks about Graduation Goggles! The strange feeling that comes with the realization that you might never see this place or these people again.

So, recently, some of us graduating from the Radio/TV program decided we should have one last luncheon at Big Jons Lunch Box in Mount Carmel before graduation night. Nothing special, just one last chance to sit down, eat, laugh, and enjoy each other's company before life starts pulling us all in different directions. Because, I honestly don't think everyone realizes the importance of times like these and how you need to capture these moments. 

You see, I am at least 15 years my peers' elder, so I think moments like these hit a little harder for me. A lot of my classmates are still at the age where it feels like friendships last forever and people will always stay connected. And I’m not trying to sound like a hater, but life just doesn’t always work like that. In fact, it rarely works like that. Life goes on, people move on, they get jobs, they have families, they get busy. One minute you are seeing these people every other day for class, talking in group chats about projects and upcoming assignments. And, then suddenly, just like that, it's over. Coming back to school wasn’t something I ever thought I would ever do again, let alone, seeit through and graduate. And, honestly, I didn’t know what to expect walking into classes with people so much younger than me. But over time, those age gaps disappeared, for the most part, and somewhere between group projects, conversations before class, and long days in the studio, these people became more than just classmates. So, maybe that is why this luncheon means so much to me. It's not about the food or even graduation itself; it's about capturing this moment with the people who were there along the journey. 

However...

My Gen Z peers seem to have a problem collectively with keeping plans! So, our little luncheon has been rescheduled to after graduation practice Friday. Hopefully this time they will realize how much this will mean to them in the future and make it this time. Who knows? I guess we will see on Friday. But, while graduation is supposed to be this exciting ending, part of me also sees it as a goodbye. Not necessarily forever, hopefully, but definitely the end of something. Maybe that’s another reason why this means so much to me. Because years from now, when everybody is off living completely different lives, I know most of us if not all of us will reminisce about moments like these and realize they mattered more than we knew at the time.