Graduation is a rite of passage. As the school year comes to a close, exams are written, universities chosen and final decisions are being made, and many students of the class of 2012 have one thing on their minds…Grad. Not Grad in the sense of receiving our diplomas and heading off to find our places in the world (which logically is the most important aspect) but the Grad that allows us to dress up in fancy clothes (that are not plaid, or wool, or kilts with knee socks), eat a nice dinner with our families, and friends and dance the night away.  Like grown up people do in the movies.

The Grad Dinner and Dance has been a Brentwood tradition for decades and is one of the most highly anticipated events on a senior student’s school calendar. It’s not just a night to us, it is a symbol - a symbol that we are finally growing up and moving on – and everybody knows it!  It is exciting and frightening in a good way. No longer will we simply exist in our comfortable niche of high school; we will venture out of our comfort zones into the ‘real world’.  Graduation is a right of passage, a milestone along the road to our futures.  We are being pushed out of the Brentwood nest and our mouths are opening wide and saying to the world, ‘Feed me!’

I can’t speak for the male population, but many of the girls have been planning for the evening of May 18th since last September.  They have spent months poring over fashion magazines for make-up and hairstyle ideas, not to mention the all-important dress, which must be perfect, or as close to perfect as possible.  Hair, make-up, shoes, handbag, mani and pedi, gold or silver?  So many choices!  Oh, and yes, the guys will no doubt look very nice in their tuxes too.

Grad is a night where the whole graduating class comes together to celebrate. It’s a night where we share the joy in our accomplishments and appreciate that we may not all be in the same place like this ever again. As one of the greatest scholars of our generation said:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet on your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.” – Dr. Seuss
 
Emily R, Class of 2012