Right time for some, too soon for others

Noaki Schwartz

Skateboard helmet in hand, Luke Christiano stood close to the fence

separating him from the rows of seniors that swept past at the Corona del

Mar High commencement.

The teenagers, overwhelmed with feelings of elation, anticipation and

nervousness, were too preoccupied to notice the second-grader who stood

watching them. And he, in turn, didn’t quite understand why this was such

a big event for his sister, Cristina, and her classmates.

“I don’t know why it’s important, but I knew it was something special for

her,” Luke said about his sister.

For most of the seniors, it was clear.

“I’m nervous,” said senior Chelsea Taylor. “I thought this day would

never come. I’m afraid I’ll fall on my face.”

“I’m sad to leave everybody,” said Amber Wynkoop.

“I’m happy to leave!,” countered Michael Yu.

Their anticipation had been building for nearly 12 years. Evidence of the

excitement bubbled over in the form of this year’s senior prank --

toilet-papering trees and gluing “2000” in coins to the grass.

Bits of forgotten paper still hanging in the trees blew in the wind as

the class president struggled to speak.

“Guys, this is it,” said Claire Duggins. “Some are thinking it’s about

time and other are thinking no, not yet.”

Ears half-cocked, the words floated over young Luke.

“She gets to go to college and not have any rules,” he said of his

sister’s future. “It’s a really big step.”

And when student Sonia Lohiya ended her speech, in which she told her

class to follow their own unique and separate paths, the boy and his two

friends shrugged their shoulders and started talking about what high

schools they’ll attend -- and if they’d still be friends then.

The speeches continued with valedictorian scholars Joseph Goodstein and

Jennifer Lee performing a mock Academy Awards shtick with pop culture

references.

In a quietly touching gesture, Lee wore an eye patch to match her good

friend Goodstein on their last day in high school together.

As student Eilene Hao sang her senior project, “The Heart of Our Lives,”

the young boys wandered off and sat down on a bench together.

Hao stretched her voice and sang about holding on to the memories, hope

and friendships they had made over the years.

As the speeches ended with a crescendo of applause and just before the

seniors threw their caps into the air in a final gesture, Luke’s

10-year-old buddy, Joey DiCaprio, chimed in with exuberance.

“It’s another step into life,” Joey said. “You’re all on your own!”