Who knew Lompoc High School could look this good? Well, Asahi certainly helped. Her bright smile, kind personality, and joyful energy made this one of those sessions that was simply fun from beginning to end.
Today is Asahi’s last day in Lompoc before she heads home to Japan, and I kept thinking the same thing while I photographed her: what a brave girl.
Which, I suppose, makes it pretty fitting that she was a Brave this year. I know. Slightly cringe mom moment, but I couldn’t resist.
Leaving your family, your friends, your language, and everything familiar to spend an entire school year in another country takes a kind of courage most of us will never have to find. And from everything I’ve heard, Asahi stepped into the experience with so much grace, kindness, and curiosity.
She got to experience all the things that come with an American senior year, including walking the halls of Lompoc High, making new friends, becoming part of a family here, and getting to put on a cap and gown at the end of it all.
Thankfully, the Lompoc High campus was open for us, so we were able to photograph her portraits right at the school where so much of this year happened.
I think that’s what I love most about these photographs. Years from now, they won’t just remind her of graduation. They’ll remind her of this very specific season of her life, when she left home, crossed an ocean, and spent a year building a little life halfway around the world.
Good luck, Asahi. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your American adventure. I hope you have safe travels home and carry a little bit of Lompoc with you when you go.
