WILL B.

B.

raduations are quickly drawing near and that means within just a few short weeks there will be a flurry of end-of-year events, banquets, graduation ceremonies, award presentations, senior photo shoots and graduation parties.

For many, including myself, it will be a marathon sprint to the end of May. It usually takes me mid-June to catch up on all the editing of photos I will take and many late nights at the laptop. It seems like a burden, but it really is a blessing, at least for me. I have been following these students around for seven years now and I have grown fond of watching their ups and downs, their successes and failures. The end of each school year is like going down memory lane as I edit album after album and remember all the highs and lows.

The central theme I always end up on by the time I get to mid-June is pride: the pride I feel seeing all the accomplishments of these students I have photographed and silently cheered on throughout the year. I want only the best for each one of these students and only successful endings to the days in Olney ISD before moving on to their next life. Whether it’s going on to college to earn a degree, going to trade school or simply working in retail, I will always be proud of these students I have followed these many years, and wishing them the very best at their next in life.

When school ends, it will usher in summer, that’s the season I love most. Long hot days under the Texas sun, fun days at the lake or Olney pool, the Fourth of July parade and the annual Olney in America celebration, windows open at night catching a cool breeze and listening to the crickets, cicadas, coyotes and frogs at the stock pond.

My favorite will always be the wind blowing through the giant pecan trees that cast their cool shadows across the west side of the house during the hot day and bring relaxing, rustling sounds through the windows at night, lulling me to sleep. The list of things I love about summer is a long one and I hope you enjoyed some of my favorite things about summer.

What is your favorite thing about summer? Maybe the A.C. on a hot day? Haha!

This is Will B saying, getting ready for the marathon sprint to graduation and then the long lazy days of summer.