1 minute read
Graduation and Goodbye
GRADUATION
Advertisement
and GOODBYE
by Gabriel Guadalupe
Like the Class of 2021, I started at Buxton four years ago. Back in 2017, we were new and trying to figure Buxton out: work jobs, shifting, Spring Thing, etc. Together we found and, in many instances, created our place at the school.
As the seniors gave their graduation speeches, I noticed myself reliving moments I’ve shared with each and every one of them. I could see them serving their favorite dishes during Kitchen Crew, acting in a play, singing during ensembles, or reading a story during Fall Arts. I had flashbacks of lessons in the classroom, salsa parties in the theater, and our travels during All-School Trip. I couldn’t help but get sentimental thinking about bedchecks, the Super Smash Bros. Melee matches, or the transformative conversations at Tunnel City and The Clark.
For those who knew me when I first arrived, this may sound a bit surprising. I was a more traditional teacher back then. Asking students about their feelings? Sharing mine? No thanks! But after four years, I’ll admit that I’ve been Buxtonized. I’ve realized that working and living at Buxton is much more than a job. I’ve shared the past four years of my life with some amazing people and it’s hard to believe it’s over.
Goodbyes are always bittersweet. I am happy to see the seniors move on, but I also feel a pang of sadness since I can’t slow or stop time. The beauty of the past four years, however, lies in its fleeting nature. I’ve learned that Buxton students, more so than us adults, understand this reality. They live their lives intensely and intentionally. I see it in their art and how they interact with one another. I felt it in our goodbye hugs at graduation and in their heartfelt messages in my yearbook.
As I look to the future, I plan to bring some Buxton with me into the next chapters of my life. I hope the Class of 2021 does the same.
