As we sat in the bandroom closet in anticipation, thoughts of the months ahead continuously swirled though our minds. It was the day that we had been waiting on for what seemed like an eternity, May 22nd, the last day of school. After 180 days of getting up early and coming home tired, we were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. As we continued to check our cell phones for the time, we talked about our plans for Summer Vacation. The trips, camps, opportunities, and other events that only Summer could bring were getting closer. Suddenly, we heard it; the sound that we had been waiting for. The tone of that final school bell couldn't have been any more beautiful. It was finally 11:25, and we were finished.
The doors of Richmond Hill High School swung open immediately, and a massive surge of students eager to get their first taste of Summer exploded onto the sidewalks. It was loud, chaotic, overwhelming, but somehow beautiful. Cars peeled out of the wet parking lot, eager to be the first to reach Shinto's, El Potro's, Taco Bell, and of course Beef O' Brady's. Summer had finally begun, we were finished.
As I sit here thinking about this wonderful day, I can't help but think about what an amazing year it's been. On August 8th, 2008, I walked through the doors of Richmond Hill High School as a really confused Freshman. I was immediately pulled into an amazing marching band that took up most of my first semester. Our show was based on Rocky, and it was nothing short on incredible. I think I learned more on that parking lot during practice than in any class all year. The value of true hard work was finally realised when that we stood on that hill at Newnan High School and cried our eyes out not because our marching season was over, but because we had put so much of ourselves into the season that it was emotionally overwhelming.
I also remember the other experiences such as Concert Band Large Group Performance Evaluation (Festival), Pep Rallies, Football Games, Parades, and other events that made us realize how happy we were that we were part of Richmond Hill High School. Though this has been a crazy year, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I walked out of Richmond Hill High School not as some crazy Freshman, but as a Wildcat. The friendships that have been formed and strengthened over this past year are by far our most precious possessions. The memories that we have made will be treasured forever. The legacy that we have left will last a lifetime. We are finished.
Though it's exciting to finally see the year come to a close, there are also several things that make it heartbreaking. We're losing some pretty amazing seniors. The senior class of 2009 has been pretty amazing. Though we are all extremely excited to see them graduate and go on to bigger and better things, we will also miss them very much. The band program is also suffering a huge loss. Our assistant Band director, Steve Hendricks, is leaving to attend Grad School at Florida State University. Once again, we are heartbroken to see him leave, but we are also very proud and excited that he has the opportunity to become an even better director.
But life doesn't slow down, even for moments and memories like these. An amazing year like this has to come to an end sometime. Summer is going to be pretty amazing. We really do deserve a vacation, and we really need it. It's time to catch up on some of that sleep that we've lost over the past year. Maybe head out to the beach for few days. Possibly take a trip to somewhere far away. Regardless of our summer plans, we're excited, we're ready, we're finished.
I end this post with the paragraph found on the first page of our Yearbook for 2009. The book was titled "Uncovering Our Roots" and it was nothing short of amazing. Compiled by Lauren Reagan and her staff of dedicated students, it took this amazing year and preserved it forever. Not only did it show the value of Richmond Hill High School, but of this wonderful community in general. So I leave you with this:
Sunrise By Lauren Reagan
Home, as defined by Webster, means a place where one resides, or your origin. However, Webster barely scratches the surfaces of this enormously profound word. Home, for all 1,614 of us, is right here, right now. Home is waking up to the magnificent sunrise, long drives to Kilkenny Marina, walking in J.F. Gregory Park, pick-up games at the Buckhead basketball courts, spending hours eating chips at El Potro's, and ending not with the sunset, but with the lights turning off at the football field. Although we are all going different places, we will never be able to change where we started. You can run as far as you want, but you will never be able to escape the loving, ever growing small town of Richmond Hill. It takes a lifetime to grow up, and with each sunrise, you continue to uncover your roots.From the Hilltop,
Hunter Odom
hunter2444@coastalnow.net
Romans 8:28
