oh, the places she'll go!

I am the mama of a high school graduate

first day / last day

When Emma was growing up, I used to tell her — every year on the day before her birthday — that if she wanted to, she could choose not to turn a year older. She would always look at me in horror and say, “No, mama!”

She graduated high school on June 25, 2025.

This is an appreciation post from her mama.

I still remember holding her just hours after she was born — wide-eyed and alert, already taking in the world around her. From the very first day she started in the Casa program at her Montessori school, this girl has loved to learn.

infinite Emmas

I wish I could say that all of her school years were good ones — but of course, she faced her share of challenges.

Going through her parents’ divorce wasn’t easy, and she had to grow up a lot faster than I would have liked. She went from being my Emma to being my Anne (with an E).

At the end of Grade 7, the pandemic hit — and I still remember how that moment changed everything for her. While so many students began to get stuck, she did something brave: she named what she needed. She told her dad, and her life moved on from there.

Heading into Grade 8, she was invited to join a special program: Let’s Lead – Nīkānētān. As part of it, Emma learned to navigate the city bus system, commuting every day from the east side to the west side of the city.

To this day, she’s got transit skills that’ll serve her well in Saskatoon … or Singapore.

this post brought to you by Sally's Beauty Supply

High school came along, and I secretly hoped she would have a better experience than I did.

On her very first day, she made best friends.

Over the next four years, I watched her try on all kinds of experiences (and hair colours): track & field, art classes — including her AP art portfolio show, hours of tutoring sessions (often with me parked outside waiting — this kid loves to learn), Christmas parties in July, hosting Japanese exchange students, school dances, and last-minute panic trips to Staples.

Along the way, she’s taught me a few lessons. I hope I have helped her learn a thing or two, too.

We also, together, faced the legal system — and, together, we made her dad be accountable.

And yes, we even survived grad dress shopping in the year of our lord tariffs.

photos via the incredible Eyes of Echo

Next year, this kiddo of mine will be catching a ride with me to campus, where she’ll be starting her studies in psychology. Her mama still remembers waddling down the halls of Engineering, making more than a few of my male colleagues visibly uncomfortable.

I thought I’d be really emotional on her graduation day — but I wasn’t. Not because I didn’t feel anything, but because I didn’t feel sad. I’m not mourning the end of her high school years or childhood. If anything, I’m impatiently excited to see what’s next.

People tell me all the time that I’ve got a great kid — and they’re right. But I’ll never take credit for who she is. That is all her.

Her dad didn’t end up coming to the graduation ceremony — and you know what? It was okay. It was okay because the people who love her did show up, whether in person or watching from afar.

She had the perfect day and evening to mark the end of high school.

On her Instagram post summarizing the night, she wrote a little something about me that I want to always remember — so I’m posting it here.

I didn’t cry during grad. I didn’t even cry after.

But I did get emotional when I read these words.