SAN ANTONIO -- When Brianna Sheely gripped her graduation cap, she realized it was a pivotal moment in her life. She was moving on from East Central High School.

“I can’t believe this is happening! Ah! I’m so excited,” Brianna says. 

Her father, Tiy Sheely, started capturing those moments of preparation. Brianna’s brothers, Christopher and Christian, looked on as their mother, Tara Sheely, handed her the graduation cords. 

She was getting ready for a curbside graduation - something she didn’t quite envision back in the fall.

“I could just imagine having my face on one of those Fatheads (posters), but that’s not happening, and I think I’m okay with that,” Brianna said, laughing. 

Brianna was a honey bee for her school’s dance team. She received a prestigious honor from her director, Brittany Colunga. 

“Well, you see, Ms. Colunga - love her. Love that lady,” Brianna said, holding her medal. “She nominated me for the academic achievement award and I cried. I balled my eyes out.”

The Sheely family then played the role of artists as they drew on their four-wheeled canvas. 

“Peace out, Girl Scout,” Brianna said, decorating the family SUV.

Then the family hit the road to the ceremony that graduated nearly 800 students. 

Brianna Sheely drives with her family to her graduation ceremony in this image from June 2020. (Jose Arredondo/Spectrum News)

“Seven-hundred-ninety-two seniors. That's almost 900 - I mean 800 - of us,” Brianna said in the passenger seat. “I can’t count.” 

Her mom immediately poked fun.

“Maybe you need to go back to math class,” Tara Sheely said, laughing.  

Brianna is still figuring out her post-graduation plans.

“I’m either going to UTSA or going to ministry school, so that is something we are really praying about and just getting clarity about what I’m supposed to do,” Brianna says. 

Her nerves set in as her family’s orange SUV rolled closer to the graduation stage. 

“I just hope I don’t fall. That’s my biggest fear, falling,” Brianna says. 

Brianna made her way down the red carpet leading to the stage as her father snapped pictures. 

When Brianna walked off the staged she shouted to her family, “We did it!” 

Her graduation didn’t feature any Fatheads, or a section for her church family, but what it did have was a walk her family won’t ever forget. 

Brianna Sheely receives her high school diploma in this image from June 2020. (Jose Arredondo/Spectrum News)