The end of the year is a
joyful occasion in most schools. Not so in boarding schools, especially when
the dorm becomes a close-knit little family. Our dorm parents become our
second and third sets of parents and attend our events, sports games, and
theatrical productions whenever possible. Our dorm mates become our sisters
and are the ones we are most likely to turn to for comfort. Some of us will
never see each other again. Some of us are coming back next year, but to a
dorm with a hole in it. The end of this year draws inexorably closer and I
am startled to realize that I don’t want this year to end.
We lit three candles, and turned the lights off, and said our goodbyes by
candlelight. That alone shows how important the occasion was. Fire is never
allowed in the dorms here. The exceptions are Hanukkah and this night. The
end of year ceremony. We all sat in a circle in the common room, and went
through the graduating seniors, making tear-filled speeches of the memories
we had. We toasted the good times and the bad with sparkling white grape
juice. And then we sat in the common room for a while after that, crying and
saying personal, private goodbyes. I couldn’t get through my goodbyes
without crying, and I’m still crying now. These people are closer to me than
my own sister.
As I looked around the candlelit room, I came to a single conclusion: I
wished this night could last forever. That we didn’t have to say goodbye;
that we could all go on with our year. We shared all our memories, and our
goodbyes, and now we’re just going on to our summer. It doesn’t seem right.
It’s just another summer. I can’t wait to be back here again, to come back
and greet everyone I know with hugs. To see our dorm parents, and our dorm
associates…
There were so many times that I wished for the year to be over quickly. And
now, with one tear-filled goodbye and a candlelit room, I realized once
again to be careful what I wish for.
So come on! Light three candles, and may this night last forever!
Kira Schiavone is a high school student who's working on becoming a
professional writer, and enjoys reading and writing rants for the
Fedora Chronicles.
