See this sweet 12 year old boy on his first day of high school...
...well today he graduated.
I can no longer say that he is "at school" and all that is left is for him to sit his HSC exams in about 3 weeks time.
I woke up feeling very out of sorts and a little emotional but pulled myself together for the morning ahead. We took our seats in the school hall along with all the other parents, who I suspect were having very similar feelings.
We all stood and clapped the students as they filed in to take their seats and that's when I noticed that my mum was already crying (pace yourself nana, we have another 2 hours to go LOL)
The year 12 students entertained us, the principal's speech took me close to the edge of tears but I held strong until Oscar's year adviser, Mr Kelly, took to the podium to make his speech.

Mr Kelly has been a very popular year advisor and teacher and from the moment his speech began I knew I was not going to be able to hold it together. He was also filled with emotion as he recounted the highs and lows of being the year advisor to this group of kids for the past 4 years.
As is his usual way, he finished by telling a story, this time about a little bird known as a puffin and how they are born on a dangerous rock and the first part of their lives is very regimented, they are always being told what to do and follow the rules lest they perish. And then one day they are told to jump from the rock, and if all those lessons have been learned well, they will spread their wings and fly off to their new lives.
With this Mr Kelly looked at the gathered Year 12's and told them it was time to jump and fly away little puffins.
Cue standing ovation from the students and a flood of emotion from all assembled; barely a dry eye in the house.
And then the handing out of the graduation folders...

And we clapped the students out the door and off for photos, morning tea, and hugs for family & friends.

We headed off to have lunch with friends but made one last stop as we drove away from the school...

Sitting here tonight and typing this up I can't help but be impressed by the crazy blend of unique, talented, and creative students that made up this year. I know teenagers sometimes get a bad rap for being, well, teenagers, but they really do have a lot of good things going on and that's reason enough to be proud.
It was definitely a day to feel the love.
Congratulations Oscar!