I don't think that I speak for the whole junior high community because I probably come from one of the smallest schools in the state, the Hongwanji Mission School. Our 8th grade had 14 students. That's it.
Most of the class members had been at the same school since pre-school or kindergarten, so graduation was supposed to be a big thing.
We practiced speeches, songs, receiving diplomas and all that other stuff until it came out of our ears, I guess.
We had been doing this for a month, and then you know how it goes. WHAM!! The day slapped us in the face as if to say, "Hello?! Graduation? Remember?"
There weren't any butterflies or any cold sweats. Just the feeling of, hey! All these people are coming to see me. Oops ... I mean us!
Then the awards were handed out and I was surprised. The academic achievement award went to me and when I went up to receive it, I didn't think about the year's work I spent on the award, but whether my slip was showing.
It wasn't until after I got home and began sorting out the leis (you know, the dead ones and the ones you can still keep) and the cards, that I finally realized that these people that I spent almost half of my life with are gone.
As I recall, nobody cried at the graduation and no one said anything about never seeing each other again. That was when I thought about my friends and the mushy memories.
You could say that I was being the totally ungrateful, unsentimental teen-ager at first. But that's not completely true. I did feel sad, but more happy that I would be going to a bigger school with bigger challenges.
But I will never forget that the friends that I had, I will always consider my friends, even if two years from now they look back and do not recognize my face.
So high school awaits us and junior high is a memory. Now it's time to go forward. That's fore-sight, right?
Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature allowing teens and young adults to serve up fresh perspective. Guys and girls speak up by fax at 523-8509; by answering machine at 525-8666; snail mail at P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, HI 96802; or e-mail, features@starbulletin.com.
The "Heritage Tour: Discover Japan Program" essay contest is open to those 25 to 35 years old. The essay should focus on the topic "How can Japanese American history, culture and/or art be used to build bridges of understanding between Japan and the United States?"
The essays should be four pages or less, double-spaced and typed. Deadline for submission is July 12. The trip will take place Sept. 26 to Oct. 2.
For applications and information, call Cheryl Kaino at the museum at 213-625-0414, ext. 273.
Stevens will be flown to Los Angeles for final competition June 25. The grand prize winner will be featured in an L.A. Looks national print ad, and will receive a two-year $100,000 modeling contract with L.A. Models.