It's Getting Real!

Commencement gown for a 6'3" high school graduate!

The Herff Jones representative for our district came by the high school yesterday to give out the graduates' orders for caps and gowns, tassels, and graduation invitations. Since Dylan designed and created his own invitation, we didn't have to order any of those, but I did stop by to pick up his cap and gown and tassel.

A 2016 tassel for the mortar board.

After attending a teacher appreciation luncheon provided for us by student council, I hurried home to give Dylan his graduation stuff before he left for work. It was fun to watch his face light up as he quickly removed the gown and the cap from its plastic and tried them on, going into my room to snap a selfie in front of the full-length mirror. "It's really happening," he exclaimed. "I can't believe it's only three more weeks."

Dylan's official, self-created graduation announcement.

For his senior pictures session, Dylan wore the same shirt his brother Jacob wore for

his senior pictures exactly six years earlier! (Photos for both boys by Eugene Prestwich)

While picking up the cap and gown, I was also able to pick up Dylan's new class ring. He could have ordered a ring at any time since the fall semester of his sophomore year, but, although we occasionally discussed it, he didn't seem to be all that interested. His older sister and brother both have class rings from high school, but I let the subject drop due to Dylan's apparent lack of interest.

The coolest class ring box ever!

Then last November I brought it up again. "Look, this is your last chance. Do you want a class ring?" He looked surprised, as if there'd never been any question about it. Of course he wanted one. So I dragged him to the computer then and there, and he designed his beautiful ring with a deep-red garnet to represent the ruby-red of his July birthstone.

Dylan's class ring nestled in its box.

We should have gotten it a few months ago, but there was a mix-up with the ring company, who thought I owed them $52.80 more than the originally agreed-upon price. Finally, I called the local representative Thursday night, and he promised to bring the ring with him on Friday. He was as good as his word.

Dylan's shiny new class ring finally arrived!

And so the final days of Dylan's high school career are counting down. For most of our high school students, there are eleven actual school days left until summer vacation. For seniors like Dylan, only seven school days remain: three days this coming week (there's no school on Monday), and four days the following week. Traditionally, seniors do not attend school the final week of the school year. Instead, Dylan will be gone for four days on the senior trip to Disneyland and the sunny beaches of Southern California. 

The icon of a camera on the side represents Dylan's passion for photography.

The memories of these four years of high school, good and bad, will remain with him for the rest of his life. I hope they'll mostly be happy reflections of time with friends and time developing skills that will benefit him throughout his life. My baby is perched on the edge of the nest, ready to try his wings! I know he will fly far and do great things with his life. I'm proud of you, my son!