*deep breath*

In March 2009 I first walked through the doors of 9-3. I stayed in the background didn’t really talk to anyone and took some really terrible pictures because I hardly knew anything about photography [I don’t even think I was shooting in Manual yet :O]. After that I came to random school events and took pictures before prom, sat through last classes, there’s been field trips, SATs, alumni Jeopardy, and polk days, summer photoshoots, lunch dates, and park days, welcoming new students and group hugs [Seniors: February 17th 2011. Juniors: June 14th 2011], and somewhere between all of that I started calling the students I saw in this classroom my family. [and I became a WAY better photographer, but that’s besides the point].

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’d be spending a lot of time in 9-3 this month. It’s been a little crazy and I tried to spare you by not blogging about every time I walked through those doors. But now that it’s over, I kind of wish I had blogged every moment. On Monday I was sitting on the grass outside 9-3, as the sun was setting and only a handful of people lingered after the last Alumni Jeopardy, and I thought about how I’ll probably never sit outside on this grass again. I thought about how different the room already looked, and now, just 2 days later how empty it feels. The AVID board is gone, names are being taken from the walls and ceiling, and at least once a day when I’ve been there someone threatens to bring a jackhammer to take the bricks with their Student of the Year names on them. Next year, 9-3 will be completely painted over or maybe not even standing. Who really knows?

Yesterday was the last Senior AVID class. I’ve been trying to think of an eloquent way to say how and what I’m feeling but I can’t. My heart hurts because I have to say goodbye to my friends, my Ohana. :'[

Every student got a piece of The Chair.

The last 20 minutes of class Mr. Anderson told them one last story.

And then they waited the last 3 minutes of class in silence, together ♥

They [and the class of 2012] got me a card and a gift, a significant amount to put towards the purchase of an iPad 2. :’] I was the “special thanks” on the board, if I’d had the chance to read the board before class started I would have realized. Thanks was written in red. My name is always in red because of my hair.

And, for the 3 people out there who care, the reason this is such a final end, not just “a class is graduating end” is because Mr. Anderson is moving on to another school. I’ll be both moving on with him to photograph at the new school and staying behind to finish out high school with the Juniors and their new teacher.