See Dick run, see Jane jump, see Alexandra take that next step in life.

"Dick said, 'Go Jane. Jump! Jump! Jump, Jane!'"

"Oh Jane, look and see, see Sally go, see Sally pull the---how do you say that?"

"Wagon Grandma. See Sally pull the wagon."

There are numerous lines from Dick and Jane books plastered into my mind.

From the time I was born my grandma Maria, my mom's mom, was right there by my side. She made it her duty to assist my parents in raising me.

My mom owned a bridal shop downtown named, "IVAH'S" which my grandma helped her run. When I was too young to be in school and my parents went to work, I would spend every moment of everyday in that bridal store with my grandma. A copious amount of memories I still carry from my childhood take place in that shop with her. It was there that I would play dress up, where I figured out that I didn't need to go to the hair dresser because, "I could cut my own hair," and it was even there that she taught me how to ride a bike.

Still to this day I can close my eyes and picture her pushing me around the store in a stroller when I would get sleepy, and singing lullabies to me in Spanish until my eyes finally shut.

My entire life I looked up to my grandma. I went to her when I needed help, or advice. She was the one who had all the answers. She was my biggest role model. There did, however come a time when my grandma asked one favor of me.

My grandma Maria was born into a poor family from Mexico. At a young age she started working to support her family. She once told me a story of how she was given the chance to assist a local doctor in her town. She mentioned how she helped him deliver babies, give shots, tend to the ill, and she also informed me on how she had a great passion for it.

"I knew that being a nurse and helping people was what I wanted to do with my life."  She expressed.

 She was soon sent to the states to work and take care of her family. She was never given the opportunity to fulfill her dreams or even receive an education.

The favor my grandma asked of me was to teach her how to read a book.

She had a large stack of Dick and Jane books, and I would sit down next to her as she pulled one out and flipped it to the first page. She would read it line by line stopping here and there to ask me how to pronounce a word, then grabbing her pen and marking it down so she wouldn't forget. She would continuously remind me of how smart I was, how proud of me she was, and how she knew that one day I was going to be something great like a doctor, or a lawyer.

My grandma passed away five years ago and with graduation coming up it makes me think of her and miss her even more. I wish she could be with me here today, so she could sit there at my graduation and see me walk across that stage to receive my diploma.

She made me promise her that I would constantly push myself, work my hardest, and follow my dreams. That's a promise that I will never break.

This fall I will be following my dreams and be attending the University of Arizona where I will be majoring in Veterinary Science and Equine Science. I would have never gotten to where I am today if it were not for that tremendous and strong woman. Although she may not physically by here with me today, I know that she is still always going to be by my side no matter where life takes me.

Take that leap and soar

"This is the biggest and most important day of my life." I thought to myself.

The palms of my hands were sweaty and there was a multitude of things flowing through my mind.

"What if no one likes me?"

"Does my outfit look ok?"

I was positive that the fate of the rest of my life depended on this day, and it was up to me to make the very best of it. I stood for a second and mentally and fully prepared myself to take on what was ahead. I straightened up my back, stood a little taller, and walked with pride right into Holbrook Park Elementary School. That kindergarten class did not know what they had coming. .

For thirteen years of my life I have had the same routine. That routine consisted of waking up, going to school five days a week for 180 days, enjoying two months of summer vacation, and then returning back to school to start it all over again. That is all I've ever known. Over the course of these thirteen years I've been given the chance to learn from numerous superb teachers, create life long friendships, and make a plethora of memories which I will carry and cherish with me always.

It blows my mind to try and comprehend the fact that in just three short weeks I will be walking out of Holbrook High School for the very last time. There will be no more walking down the halls with my friends during passing time, no Friday night lights or games in the gym, no walking late to class past Mr. Nielson hoping he won't yell at you, and that sigh of relief you feel when you actually get to experience him smile at you; there will be no more of any of that.

I had myself convinced that I was completely and utterly over the entire school scene. I would sit in class watching the clock and counting down the days until May. The thought of graduation brought me so much joy, for I couldn't wait until the day I get to move on and start that new chapter in my life. Now that the month of May has finally approached, I'm not as anxious as I thought I would be. The feelings that I've had all year still burn inside of me; however, I've also begun to feel anxiety and a tiny bit scared. Holbrook is all I've ever known and in just a little while I'm going to be thrown out into the world and have to face it all on my own.

I'm a small town girl from Holbrook, Arizona who is about to take on this crazy and scary world. Of course there will be trials and tribulations along the way, but that's just how is goes. I have no doubt that if I was able to own that first day of kindergarten, I will be able to take this great leap and soar.