Our talented  writers share their feelings about graduation and leaving PHS.

Graduation Day —
By Shelyne Velez

Graduation day is finally here,
now ends your high school career.
Always remember the friends you hold dear,
And look toward your future without fear.

This is the day you have been preparing for
Since the day you walked through that classroom door.
Now it is time to say good-bye,
spread your wings – you’re ready to fly.

So shed a tear and share a smile,
be sure to remember all the while,
Time moves on, ends with a song,
PHS memories last your whole life long.

_____________________________

Graduation Day — By Khadijah Malloy

Why must you go? Please don’t go. It is not time for you to leave. I will miss the sound of your sneakers on my face.

The boots that used to squeak like wet rubber ducks. While I was not always clean and neat all the time, I sure did shine up nice every September. Since I was the first thing made after the foundation, I have seen all types of people come and go. When I shine you can look at me, and we can see a reflection of a teenager growing up, now ready to leave PHS. Even though I’m not ready, I know you will be. I wish you could stay, but you have a life to lead. No go on, leave. I wish you could stay. I have to let your dreams and ambitions take you away.

Goodbye. It is now your graduation day.
_____________________________

 Graduation Poem — By Christopher Aguilar

The field is filled with a swirl of emotions
Anxiousness is on everyone’s face
It is time for all of us to graduate
Why are we crying when we should be happy?
Are we not moving on to something better?
Why do we hold back the tears?
Don’t you realize we might not see each other again?
Everything is so confusing and I would rather not cry
I am afraid of what is waiting for me
But I’d rather not hear them
There are many people crying
But I’d rather not see their tears
Life gets tougher now
I want to stand strong today
And show everyone in this place
That I deserve to walk the grass
That I have matured and that most of all
From now on, I am an adult.
_____________________________

Saying Au Revoir — By Jahana Caba

See you later and goodbye, to my home, for a while, I’ll come back.
At some point I must return to the place that saw me grow.
Not too soon, but in time.
Time will speak only for itself and I must make the best of it.

In time I will shine, and I will remember where it all began.
Where I grew from shy, desperate, unprepared, and fearful, to confident, patient, and passionate.
I don’t care what you say, what matters is what’s in my heart.

If I believe in myself, I will succeed.
If I love my goals, I will shine.
If I remember my roots, I will be humble.
No don’t brag that’s wrong, I don’t care if it sounds like fun,
I’ll bet that after you turn around you will cry.

Saying au revoir such a happy, scared, nervous, fearful, and touching moment.
You believed in me, so thank you.
You pushed me forward, so thank you.
I don’t care what they say about you, you were not ominous and dangerous,
you were inspiring and compassionate.

Without you I would not be who I am today.
Without you I would not have had such an amazing family of friends.
I cry when I think that leaving you means leaving it all behind,
but for what it is worth when I’m done exploring
I will come back and tell you all about it.

_____________________________

Graduation — By Selenne

Walking, walking far away from here

It was nice, I admit

Having you come into my life

Four years sounds like a lot

It was what I thought while walking through those doors.

Freshman year I got lost In crowded halls,

That scream, “Freshman!” in the gym,

I never thought that there could be so much traffic in a school,

I never thought that 5 minutes weren’t enough to get to period 4.

Sophomore year I felt like the boss.

Doing sports, knowing how everything works,

Not that much homework,

Why do I hate Shakespeare so much?

His name kills my mood.

Uniforms, “Give me a break”. They don’t work

What’s wrong with the shoes I’m wearing?

Mr. Estrict is tired of seeing my face.

Why does Junior year seem so hard?

Good thing I have art

SAT’s in March, What do I want to be?

Forcing me to compete to go to college and get a degree.

I don’t want to grow up, let this moment last forever.

Senior year, what is this?

Thinking about all the things that I could have done better.

SAT’s, I still can’t stand them.

Procrastination

The new rules for graduation

Memories, memories, memories

Lucky 13 – gets the weird schedule,

Lucky 13 – fries have been banished,

Lucky 13 – Gets the new turf.

I will miss you Passaic High School,

Although nothing makes any sense,

I will miss your crowded halls, although I hate always asking for a pass.

I will miss your lunch food, with your weird shapes and interesting smells.

I will miss you, but four more years wait for me at another place.

I will come to visit you, but this time with a visitor pass.

_____________________

Today’s My Day — By Karina Garcia

Today’s the day
The future is looking my way
I can’t believe we’re actually done
Say goodbye to all the fun
Today’s the last day of my childhood
I never thought I actually would,
But I am, I’m graduating
The feeling is so anticipating
As my parents look out in the crowd
I hope they can finally say, “I’m proud.”