Hey Nonnie! Thank you, my blog is all pretty. I am feeling very swish now. All hip with the kids etc.

Oooooh, I can try to give you a few ideas, if you’d like? But it’s such a personal thing, all I can give you is some very broad concepts and general ramblings. I hope they spark some inspiration for you!

Phew, well. Most school years have a few in-jokes that aren’t just known by a few people or groups of friends, but by everyone. Referencing these in an oblique way is fun. Stories that aren’t cruel or make anybody (be they teacher or student) a figure of fun are good to reference too, I think. They’ll encourage students to remember that there were funny things, positive things, about being here. They’ll remind your teachers of how they’ve watched you grow and change and learn, and how proud it makes them. Thanking your fellow students is a good thing to do. They’ve been on the same road as you, even if you didn’t always like travelling on it together. Thanking your teachers – AND the support staff of the school, also a good thing to do. A lot of school nurses, for example, tend to get forgotten. And a lot of those are total heroes.

Your year advisor ought to get a big round of applause. They’ve been with you all from the beginning. They’ve yelled for you in all sports and musical endeavours, stepped in when there were problems, run around like a headless chook for all the special events such as camp or dances. They’re going to miss you. They really are.

How about the school itself? Is there a room that is ALWAYS too hot? Do students always bicker over a particular computer in the music lab? Every school has weird idiosyncrasies (my high school was painted in a myriad of garish pastels, it was HILARIOUS). That’s something everyone will know.

Once you’ve got them laughing and comfortable, you can begin to get a little more thoughtful? Because if you’ve got them on your side, they’re going to listen more intently to what you say.

IDK. Graduation is weird, because it’s the culmination of all this intense pressure to succeed in which your marks are the be-all and end-all. There is a constant sort of reiteration of ‘you must have it all worked out!!!’ by the end of your school life. Your career path chosen, your goals set, etc. But life doesn’t always work that way, and it’s okay to be overwhelmed. Some students might know exactly what they want to do, and that’s awesome! A lot of students probably don’t, and are anxious and worried. And perhaps there are some things you can say about that. Life opening up before them is scary, and that’s okay. It’s okay. It’s a step into the unknown – but the idea is to keep taking steps. There are people out there they don’t know yet, things they can’t imagine that they’ll do. School is a place of routine and of familiarity, and that’s going to be gone. But good friends don’t go (I have been best mates with mine for 27 years now). And those who have struggled with finding their place and their way will discover that the wider world is not like the closed society of high school, and that there are people out there who understand.

Nervousness is okay, really. I would try and let them know that The Great Unknown doesn’t have to be scary. High school was unknown once.

And real life (by and large) doesn’t give you a mark out of 100. From what I’ve experienced, it’s mostly about persevering, failing sometimes, picking yourself and dusting it off, and moving on. Keep on moving. Take another step.

IDK, I am sort of thinking aloud here, and much of it probably isn’t of help. But if anything here sparked some ideas for you, Nonnie, then I’m glad. And congratulations to you! You made it! GO YOU.