fandomhigh | Fandom High Graduation Ceremony Class of 2007 Part I

The sun was shining high in the sky above the front lawn (not that this would matter to certain members of the audience since there was a nice awning and shaded pathways). A stage was set up with a podium and several seats for the administration and guests. Off to the side of the stage, a guitar for musical performances.

In front of the stage, blue and gold chairs were set for the largest graduating class in Fandom High history (not that it was a tough record to achieve), and to either side of those chairs were bleachers for students, family, friends, alumni, and residents of the town of Fandom who wanted to wtiness this event.

It was a beautiful day for a graduation.

[OOC: ~~Please wait for OCD.~~ You're good to go! This post is mostly for audience mingling, general graduation stuff, and such. Look for Part II with your standard Fandom Surprise early this afternoon.

It'll be kind of hard to miss the events of the second post, so you might want to hold off an any post-graduation posts for a while to avoid being Jossed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Principal Washburn, Vice Principal Hades, Dean Tick, faculty members, fellow students, family and friends, welcome. We never thought this day would come. We prayed for its quick delivery, crossed days off our calendars, counted hours, minutes, and seconds, and now that it's here, I'm sorry it is because it means leaving friends who inspire me and teachers who have been my mentors - so many people who have shaped my life and my fellow students' lives impermeably and forever.

I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann's Way. It's a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior.

My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything. Richard and Emily Gilmore are kind, decent, unfailingly generous people. They are my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their grandchild. My friends - Skywalkers to Sun, Chase to Crichton, Meerkats, Stickbugs, seniors and underclassmen alike - without whom my summers and winters both will be empty, are undoubtedly some of the most unflinchingly loyal and unquestionably brave people I've ever encountered, within a book or without one. But my highest and greatest inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life's blood, Lorelai Gilmore-Danes.

My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. She filled our house with love and fun and books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith. As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her. Thank you, Mom. You are my guidepost for everything.

As we prepare ourselves today to leave Fandom High, I hope that no one chooses to abandon the memories that the school has inescapably etched upon us. I am a vastly different person than the Rory Gilmore who took those initial, hesitant steps through the gates of our school. My life at this institution, through times of joy and pain alike, have been the single greatest years of my life. As a result, fragments of my heart, soul, and the very essence of who I am are, and will continue to be in the years to come, inextricably bound to this rock and the buildings and people upon it.

Regardless of whether you feel as I do, not a single person who will be leaving this island can claim they're untouched. That is the ultimate goal of education - to reach students and alter them to their very core. Fandom, as always, has ways of doing so in a more unique fashion than the average education system. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the class of 2007."

Lorelai had planned to just be able to whoop and holler and take lots of pictures, but she found herself tearing up and the lens behind the videocamera getting a bit misty and blurry during Rory's speech.

So she did what she could and made a face at her daughter from under her propeller beanie.

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

gilmorerents.livejournal.com - 2007-05-05 18:35 (UTC) - Expand

Jake clapped until his hands burned. He was going to miss Rory. And everyone else, and the island, and maybe even the gremlins. Suddenly he really needed a mocha.

Logan cheered loudly for Rory.

Jaye applauds. And waves a glitter flag at her.

John hooted and hollered and cheered and clapped and even blew a PLATONIC kiss or two.

Aeryn applauds for Rory and the speech. Like, a lot.

Tori cheered and clapped loudly for Rory. That speech? Was amazing.

"That was a very nice speech," Darrin said.

"If Jaye had applied herself, she could have been validictorian," Karen said.

"SHE COULD NOT," protested Sharon.

Damn Rory for making her cry. Angela blinked hard and forcefully reminded herself not to smear her mascara on the sleeve of her gown as she applauded and cheered.

Fraser clapped loudly for Rory. One of the better speeches he'd ever heard.

Aly found herself blinking back tears then laughed at herself and clapped hard for Rory.

Sokka clapped and cheered.

Angel applauded for Rory.

Yanno, in a broody and stoic sort of way.

Dawn? Totally stole tissues from Sam after Rory's speech. Then she applauded.

Anakin's eyes were suspiciously shiny.

Damn those allergies that he didn't have.

He applauded until his hands hurt.

Katara cheered and cheered for Rory.

Luke? Applauding like a giant applauding thing.

Krycek applauded, unsurprised at either the valedictorian or any part of her speech. Maybe he was clapping a little harder than usual and smiling, but still.

D'anna applauded Rory and looked around to see if she could spot Ben and her camera.

She wanted photographic memories better than the ones her hang-over would allow for.

Alanna's cheering was very likely to leave her with a sore throat soon. And allergies. Totally allergies. Once again, allergies.

Parker applauded, smiling up at the podium. "Great speech."

Chloe let out a long cheer for Rory and clapped like crazy.

John cheered and wooo-d.

Jack clapped and yelled out, "Go Rory!" when she was finished.

likethegun - 2007-05-06 02:57 (UTC) - Expand

Fandom High Graduation Ceremony Class of 2007 Part I - Saturday Afternoon

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore

Re: Valedictorian Speech - Rory Gilmore