I sit in the middle of my group of friends, three on each side of me. My gown is itchy over my clothes and I swear my cap has lice in it. Plus I know that there’s hundreds of people in the stands who will stare at me as I walk up to the stage and accept my diploma.

“Lacey,” Garret hisses from beside me, in the middle of the valedictorian’s speech, “Would you stop wringing your hands like that? You’re stressing me out.”

“Sorry,” I whisper back, not even realizing I had resorted to my usual anxious gesture. I put my hands in my lap, trying not move them.

Soon, my leg starts bouncing. At Garrett's glare, I try to stop it, but my leg has its own ideas.

“Lacey,” Garret growls.

“It’s not my fault,” I protest. “I’m sorry. It’s out of my control.”

Garret rolls his eyes and grabs my hand. “Hey it’s gonna be okay, were all in this together,” he says.

I smile back at him and I can finally feel my nerves calm down. After about twenty more minutes all the speeches are over and they switch to calling up names for all of us to get our diploma. I can’t believe that I’m actually graduating. All my highschool life I thought I was grown up; I knew my responsibilities, I was able to have conversations with adults and understand what they were saying, I have a job and I can drive. But in reality I was never grown up. Once I walk off of that stage with my diploma I will actually be grown up. I won’t be a kid anymore, I’ll be on my own, pay bills, get a real job, and so much more.

“Garrett Finnegan,” Principal Brown announces.

“This is it,” he says with joy in is voice.

I watch as my friend walks up to the stage. Is he really ready for this huge change? I ask myself.

I see him happily take his diploma and walk off of the stage. He comes back and sits down next to me.

“I did it Lacey! Can you believe it?” He chirps with excitement.

“Yes! How does it feel?” I ask

“Amazing,” he replies.

There aren’t many more names until mine, so my hands begin to get very sweaty and I start to panic. I search for my family who is sitting with the hundreds of other students’ parents. I don’t spot them so I scan the crowd again. Finally my eyes catch my family, most of them looking at the other students who are walking on and off of the stage, but I see my mom looking at me. Her smile is huge, and I can tell that she’s excited for me. I can also tell that she’s sad that I’ll be leaving

“Lacey Nelson,” Principal Brown says, calling my name. I feel my heart leap, the butterflies in my stomach multiplying.

“Its okay Lacey,” Garrett says.

I smile at him and stand up, as I walk to the stage my heart beats faster and faster with every step. The stage gets closer. This doesn’t feel real. I walk up the stairs and my principal shoots a grin in my direction.

“Ms. Nelson, congratulations,” my principle hands me my diploma.

I turn my tassel to the left side of my cap. I walk down the other seat of stairs and sit back down. At first I was scared, but now I’m excited, grateful for the past amazing four years and most of all proud of myself.

I sit down next to Garret and all of my other friends.

“How does it feel?” he says repeating what I said when he came back.

“Amazing,” I say

We both laugh and watch as our fellow classmates walk up and down receiving their diplomas like we did. After we all have our diplomas in hand out principle walks up to podium.

“Congratulations on the graduating class of 2017,” Principle Brown yells.   

We all grasp our hats and toss them into the air. I hear cheers of students, teachers and parents. Me and my friends all have a group hug and say we did it to each other. I talk to teachers and fellow students as the night gets later. After everything we all go home. This was finally the moment I grew up, and I’m excited for what's to come next.