Mind Symphony

An hour ago, I Googled “Graduation Quotes” and have been reading a whole bunch since. I’m trying to find that one quote that kind of sums up everything I’m feeling right now. Mostly, it’s the agony of parting. I quickly found out that “Graduation Quotes” are generally about the future, and optimism about starting something new. Before I move on to something new, I need to say my goodbyes first. So I then Googled “Goodbye Quotes”. After going through these quotes as well, I’ve realized that there really isn’t any one sentence or paragraph that can sum up all my experiences: all those sleepless nights, hilarious moments in class, and great times with the most amazing people in the world. I was hoping that I’d find a quote that would somehow fill this empty feeling that I feel right now.

I keep feeling like I’m forgetting something. That I’ve left something in school, that I’m not going to do something that I was supposed to, that I’m going to forget to say goodbye to someone, and that I’m going to regret it all later. It’s my forgetfulness that worries me. 

Regardless, my life as a high school student will officially end tonight. These four years, especially senior year,  will stay with me for the rest of my life. We may each part our own ways, but our memories and experiences will remain. Thanks everyone for making each day a day worth waking up to.

—-

I may not have found a single quote, but here are some of the better ones that I came across.

Graduation

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.  ~Anthony J. D’Angelo, The College Blue Book

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.  ~Henry Ford

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved.  The real milestones are less prepossessing.  They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave.  Our lives are measured by these.  ~Susan B. Anthony

Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.  ~Roger Babson

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.  ~Milton Berle

Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion.  You must set yourself on fire.  ~Arnold H. Glasow

“School’s out, Memories past, Don’t ever doubt, Our friendship will last.”

During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz.  I breezed through the questions until I read the last one:  “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”  Surely this was a joke.  I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.  Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade.  “Absolutely,” the professor said.  “In your careers, you will meet many people.  All are significant.  They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.”  I’ve never forgotten that lesson.  I also learned her name was Dorothy.  ~Joann C. Jones

You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.  ~John Wooden

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.  ~Nelson Henderson

Your families are extremely proud of you.  You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing.  This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.  ~Gary Bolding

Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.  ~Les Brown

At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards.  My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros.  ~Paul Freund

Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. ~Wayne Dyer

Goodbyes

Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.  ~Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?  ~Author Unknown

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.  ~Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch. ~Garrison Keillor

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
~Irish Blessing

May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.  ~Irish Toast

I wanted a perfect ending.  Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.  ~Gilda Radner

Missing someone gets easier every day because even though it’s one day further from the last time you saw each other, it’s one day closer to the next time you will.  ~Author Unknown

“Distance never separates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. But whenever I start feeling sad because I miss you I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone so special to miss.”