<p>basically at the end, Lee has graduated from Ault (aka Groton). She has finished up with all the high-budget lavish grad parties that her classmates have thrown, and i actually felt a little sad at this point because it reminded me of elemantary school/middle school when I was at these parties and I knew I would not see my friends again. :( anyway Lee is getting ready to get on a train, and she sees all of these people, ordinary people waiting with her, and is amazed at how "the world was so big!"</p>
<p>I guess because she felt that way because she had just spent four years in a privileged, sheltered atmosphere in boarding school surrounded by mostly affluent teens.</p>