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Senior Picture Day at The Emery/Weiner School

By Nicki Miller, The Emery/Weiner School, School Buzz Reporter | October 18, 2017

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Eve Baliff, Abby Cohan, Nicki Miller and Ely German at freshman year homecoming.

There’s a bittersweet feeling that engulfs you on Senior Picture Day at The Emery/Weiner School. From your first Picture Day to 11th grade, you walk in take a picture with your hair done, teeth super clear, and walk out. You never really think much about your picture until you see it again in the yearbook, where each person has mixed emotions about their picture. Senior year is a bit different.

My stomach churned and I began to feel light-headed when I heard the words, “Okay seniors please come to the front and get your cap and gown.” At first, I didn’t walk to the front as I hadn’t processed the fact that I had reached this point in my life. One of my junior friends tapped me on the shoulder, waking me from a daze, “Nicki, go to the front so you can get the shortest gown!”

I, the 5’1 senior, walked over to the gown rack and grabbed the 5’3 gown - closest it’s going to get. My high heels click clacked outside to the mirror to put it on, and the colorful waterworks aka my mascara started. My typical picture day had just changed from uniform to a dress covered with a cap and gown.

(From left) Dani Miller, Ely German and Nicki Miller at Senior Picture Day.

The gown I dragged through the Picture Day hall, not only represented that I was going to be this short forever, but this was a piece of cloth I would take off and only put back on when I am walking through the big auditorium holding my high school diploma. The cap fit right on my head holding down bucket loads of projects, essays, and assignments that have lead me to this moment. The curled shoulders of the gown were a sign of relief of all the hard work paying off to finally achieve this senior status.

Though this year's Picture Day was different than most, it was amazing to reflect on high school and the rollercoaster ride it has been but how far my classmates and I have come. At that moment, butterflies were flying through my stomach, but I know the rest of high school only awaits and that my “cap and gown” moment is not alone.