May 30, 1986.... The day I graduated from high school. If you do the math, that was thirty years ago......THIRTY years ago!! Say what?!! It's simply incredible to try and wrap my mind around that, but it's true. I know this because I've got the grey hair and wrinkles to prove it! So, as I think about yet another class of high school seniors about to graduate, I decided to dig around in my memory boxes and photo albums and find my own senior picture to get this blogpost rolling. Back in the day, we didn't have a "senior photo session" like the young folks of today. Nope! We just slapped on a drape (or tux jacket and "pretend" shirt if you were a boy), sat down in front of the regular school picture guy, and took a couple of poses. That was it. In case you're interested, here's the one I chose for our yearbook... (brace yourself!).... Okay, okay...you can stop laughing now! Remember...it was the 80s!! Anyway, as I was taking my stroll down memory lane thinking about graduation, it occurred to me...some things never change. Now, I know what you're thinking... "ummm....based on that picture above, PLENTY has changed!" (Yeah, I hear you! Let's face it, I'm sportin' lots of blue eye shadow, I have a hairstyle that involves a partially shaved head and a "rat-tail" <strategically hidden from view in this picture>, I have two holes in my right ear...and three in my left!...and I'm much, MUCH skinnier!) So, yes, in the fashion/trends/styles world you'd be right for sure! (On second thought, I'm thinking some of that has come back around to the current generation, but I digress...) When I say "some things never change," I'm actually talking about good ol' common sense. See, I believe that the things the Class of 2016 needs to remember as they turn their tassels in a few days are really no different than the things my classmates and I needed to know back in 1986. Some things were obvious to me, while other things seemed too big...too scary...and therefore, it took me a little longer to truly understand the concept. So, with that in mind, I'd like to give a special spotlight to the nine teens (and their parents) that entrusted me with their Senior pictures this school year, and I'll try to sprinkle in a little bit of that common sense as we go along. "As you start your journey, the first thing you should do is throw away that store-bought map and begin to draw your own." ~Michael Dell Son of Nick & Sharon Bell ~Grant's next stop: United States Air Force~ Basic training- Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing, but what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself." ~Alan Alda Son of Mark & Celina Brown ~Gatlin's next stop: Young Harris College~ Majoring in Business & Public Affairs "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." ~J.K. Rowling Son of Jason & Daniele Franklin ~Justin's next stop: Augusta University~ Majoring in Exercise Science "Take action. Every story you've ever connected with, every leader you've ever admired, every puny little thing that you've ever accomplished is the result of taking action. You have a choice. You can either be a passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your own life." ~Bradley Withford Son of Russ & Lauren Harris ~Branson's next stop: Athens Technical College~ Majoring in Radiography "My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges and instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them." ~Ruth Westheimer Daughter of Chris & Susan Kubas ~Katie's next stop: University of North Georgia~ Majoring in Psychology "You will have failures in your life, but it is what you do during those valleys that will determine the heights of your peaks." ~Rahm Emanuel Son of Melissa Mercer & Ryan Mills ~Tanner's next stop: University of North Georgia~ Major: Undecided "Respect people with less power then you. I don’t care if you’re the most powerful cat in the room, I will judge you on how you treat the least powerful. So there." ~Tim Minchin Son of Lee & Becky Oliver ~Lee's next stop: Kennesaw State University~ Majoring in Sports Management "Don’t let your fears overwhelm your desire. Let the barriers you face—and there will be barriers—be external, not internal. Fortune does favor the bold, and I promise that you will never know what you’re capable of unless you try." ~Sheryl Sandberg Daughter of Rick & Staycie Rice ~Madesyn's next stop: Kennesaw State University~ Majoring in Forensic Chemistry "You can’t control how smart you are, how funny you are, how good-looking you are. The one thing you can control in your life is how hard you work." ~Ian Brennan Daughter of Shane & Angela Scoggins ~Rose's next stop: Mercer University~ Majoring in Journalism "Live life to the fullest." ~Ernest Hemingway So, you see? Good ol' common sense. It's a wonderful thing. When I was 18 years old, some of these ideas were so obvious to me, while other things seemed too big...too scary...and therefore, it took me a little longer to truly understand certain concepts. If I could give you nine wonderful young people any advice at all for this next chapter of your life it would most definitely be this... Live! REALLY live! Try new things! Meet new people! Push yourself WAY out of your comfort zone and see where it takes you! This is YOUR time. Make it count! Do NOT think of graduation as "the end", but rather... "the beginning"! :) Graduates, it was my pleasure to be a part of your Senior Year! Thanks again for the opportunity! I wish you each a lifetime of peace and joy as you travel your individual roads to success. I can't wait to see what happens next for each one of you! So, from all of us here at DTRphotography (and by "all of us", I mean my husband and me) ;) ............ Congratulations, Class of 2016! Now get out there, and do great things! :) Until next time,
~D
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AuthorHi! I'm Dot. I refuse to succumb to the "empty nest syndrome"! So, this is my journal.....my photo album.....my attempt to enjoy the next chapter of my life as it unfolds. Welcome to The Roomy Nest! Archives
January 2020
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