Can’t Hold Us*

The shimmering lights illuminated the late night sky as we headed to the “undisclosed location”—which is actually the same place every year. We were jacked up on adrenaline and motivated by our growling stomachs and our enduring desire to have one last crazy adventure with some people we knew we may never see again.

The bus driver either tried to amp us up or shut us up, but whatever he intended, as he turned on the music we were filled with more excitement.

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight 'til it’s over

So we put our hands up…

As Macklemore blasted through the speakers, a bus full of graduates harmonized on the first line—like we simultaneously felt the bass flood through our veins.

Y’all can’t stop me, go hard like I got an 808 in my heart beat
And I’m eating at the beat like you gave a little speed to a great white shark on shark week
Raw. Tell me go up. Gone!

It was both electrifying and calming because, in that moment, I knew—like Chbosky** so wonderfully put it—we were infinite. I was sitting next to one of my favorite people in the world, sharing my granola bar—which made me feel a little bit like a kindergartner. Yet we had just spent the last five hours in caps and gowns. We chatted over how excited we were that we just graduated and how much fun the party would be. But something was different. As we sat on one of the last busses of our high school career, we passed buildings on the campus that she would reside in next year.

In my moment of reflection, I realized that I wasn’t going to have her next year. Sure, we will be able to Skype and talk on the phone. But this is someone that I have spent the last three years with, and the more time we spend together, the better we get along. She told me last time we hung out, that even with all the time we had been spending together that she never got sick of me, and I knew I felt the same way. 

This is such a crazy time in our lives full of mystery and opportunity, and I’m so thrilled to be going to college. But with good change comes scary change. In a few months, the long talks in our cars, and the overdose of time spent together will be gone. Instead, in its place will be new friends and campus adventures. 

Yet as we sat on that bus, only the night mattered. For one night only, 

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight 'til it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us.

*“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore

**Stephen Chbosky wrote The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This is a reference to this amazing book, and if you don’t get it, you need to read this book as soon as possible.