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I’m not sure if I can write this entry without getting too tired from overwhelming sentimentality halfway through, but I promised myself I’d write something about my graduation, so here it is.

We were told to arrive at the school by 3pm so we could get alphabetically organized (which ultimately failed) and put on our caps and gowns (as if we couldn’t do that without help). They didn’t specify what girls were supposed to wear, so I assumed any kind of formal wear would be fine. When I actually arrived at the school, though, all the other girls were in uber-short sleeveless dresses in bright, flamboyant colours. I, on the other hand, had chosen an ensemble of black pants and a ruffled-front white blouse. In fact, I was probably the -only- girl not in a tiny dress. Quite clearly, I did not see the point of decking myself out in fancy colours since everyone would look the same once we put our robes on. And no one would see what was under our robes anyways, so what was the point? Anyways, after I got over that initial confusion, I just stood in the hallway with my guy friends and chatted it up until they forced us back into our assigned rooms.

After another hour of aimlessly sitting in desks while the administrators tried to get everything under control, we were herded out to the charter buses and brought down to the Frank Erwin Center. CPHS had just finished their ceremony and flocks of emerald green robes were hurrying out, creating the illusion of a gathering of Slytherin wizards in vein of popular series Harry Potter. Upon arrival, we were once again herded into a large room, where we stood around and chatted some more, and finally stood in our assigned positions for a good 20 minutes or more. Bethany and I reminisced about Hilltop and our happy childhood, hehe. When we started walking out of the room, perfectly positioned rank and file, everyone around me suddenly seemed to realize… “Damn, we’re finally graduating.”

Walking out of the corridor into the central area of the Center was overwhelmingly amazing. I really couldn’t see anything since I had shoved my glasses up my sleeve, but I could feel the electricity of the excitement in the room. Pomp and Circumstance, that cursed song I have engrained as flute fingerings into my mind, brought back sweet memories of endless practicing during 6th grade year. Once everyone was in place, we endured speeches from all the important ones (the salutatorian and valedictorian speeches this year were amazing; Brad’s was more of the typical inspirational one, delivered with the finesse he has always used to shape his words, while Tanner’s was much more down-to-earth). After another song from the ovation choir, all the graduates were then called up, one by one. I clapped for all my friends, naturally, but I also came to the realization halfway through that I was friends with the most obscure people; most of the time I was one of only several who applauded them. That being said, I of course clapped for all my compsci classmates, my scifair buddies, my “inner circle” friends, my Hilltop classmates, and a few theatre mates.

As the final graduate was called, everyone erupted into cheers and shouts. After the presentation of the slideshow to our school song, “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney, we all hastily turned our tassels as told to do, tossed our caps, marched out as some lame recessional music played (whatever happened to using Ode to Joy as the recessional?), and picked up our diplomas in the back room amidst happy friends and teachers. Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Christman were there, of course, to greet me, and I said goodbye to some of my closer friends. Outside by the flagpoles, my parents and uncle took enough pictures of me to fill an entire photo album, but I must admit my favourite picture would be the one with me, Steven, Patrick, and Sam. Just shows how dysfunctional my friends really are, right? =) There are a few people I really wish I could have spent longer saying goodbye/farewell/good luck to, but for the most part all the people I cared about really high-tailed it out of there as soon as they could. That’s why I left slightly miffed, but I got over that soon enough. And no matter. I’ll keep in contact with them over Facebook, phone, e-mail, or.. whatever other methods I can scheme up.

Everyone else headed back to school for Project Graduation (which lasted 11pm-6am), but I and some of my friends said, “Screw that” and went home instead. My parents had promised we would stay up the entire night playing games and having fun, so I started a 12-hour card marathon with them. Unfortunately, they only lasted about two hours before they were dead tired, so I proclaimed myself the winner as everyone dragged themselves off to bed. I ended up begging my mother to let me stay up the entire night, since it was unfair I had to face disappointment - after all, if I had gone to school instead of agreed to stay at home, I would have been up until 6am anyways. I ended up doing crap on the computer until 3am, and then talking on the phone until 4am, then waking up at 6am to bid my uncle farewell, then sleeping until 11am. Not too bad, I will admit. And guess what’s coming up on the 14th? That’s right; science fair graduation party at Mrs. Mann’s place ;D

So yes. It’s over. We’re done. Sayonara see you again adios bye bye. And I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. I won’t cry…

… so to finish off the entry on a completely unrelated note!
Me: See, the thing I like is the fact that you can relate everything to some aspect of the Internet, technology, or computing. It puts life in words that I can understand.
Steven: Well, I’m glad I am able to dumb down life for you.

I don’t know why I found that funny, but I ended up laughing for five minutes straight.

10am, Sunday, May 11th. I’m standing in front of the baggage check-in kiosks at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport with my huge red suitcase, my handbag, and my laptop bag. Excited shivers run down my spine as I cluch my project notebook closer to my chest. This is it. I’m going to Atlanta, GA, on a trip that I had only dared to dream about since… I don’t know, freshman year.

That’s right, guys. Only a mere week ago I was jumping up and down in disbelief at the fact that I was going to the largest gathering of brilliant young scientists in the world… and now I’m back at home, sitting in my office, exhausted after six days of partying (i.e. nerdfests) at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair 2008.

… you know, I think I’m going to cry from sentimentality and nostalgia. Seriously.

I have never, in my entire life, had such a good experience as that I have had this week. I have never been as happy as I was this week. I have never spoken to such amazing people, never felt such excitement, never been so thrilled by simply being allowed the opportunity to be in the same room with students around the world just as passionate about science as I am. You know, sometimes I lament about the fact that I wasn’t able to make it here to ISEF sooner in my high school career, but at the same time, I reflect on this idea and you know what? I don’t think I would have appreciated it quite as much. Not only does this, being both my first AND last time, mean so much more to me as a mark of the culmination of my personal development and scientific endeavors… I also got to share this joy and exhilaration with fellow MIT prefrosh! You know who you are ;D

To appease my longing to hitchhike on a plane back to Atlanta (so I can either spend some more time socializing with the ISEFers who still remain or just sit in the GWCC and revel in the awe and sheer wonder of what just took place there), I’ll have to take you all back to review what was definitely the BEST week of my life. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have to skip down Memory Lane and tell all the juicy details, but since I’m dying from lack of true sleep and thus feel terribly drowsy, I’ll leave you with this teaser of an introduction. In the coming days I’ll post a day-by-day anecdote of my adventures - hope it doesn’t bore you all too much!

I’m going to refrain from recapping my entire experience thus far at Intel ISEF - I’ll save that for later tonight when I’m not in a rush and am relaxing on my bed. I will say, however, that I’ve been desperately scouting out the other MIT’12ers that are currently here at the international event! Omar and I, both dejected that Matt Mcgann’s reception ended up cancelled, decided that we’d gather ourselves for a get-together tomorrow at the CNN Center. By way of guest list, I’ve found at least eight of us here, and there could very well be more if we are able to get the news out via word of mouth. Very exciting indeed, but I will confess I do miss people back home. I hear CS class today was very exciting; unfortunately I had to miss every moment of it.

Oh well, I suppose =) Missing CS for a week at Intel ISEF is totally worth it, especially getting to attend that panel this afternoon with the Nobel prize laureates. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for the welcome event tonight at the Georgia Aquarium..!