People say high school flies by in the blink of an eye; I never understood what they meant until now. As I go through the last few weeks of high school, it feels bittersweet and nostalgic to leave it behind.

On my first day of freshman year, I remember going up to a Senior of Merit at Work (SMW) member to ask them where my first period was. Panicked and scared, I thanked them and frantically hurried off to find my class. As the years went by and I am now a graduating senior, this campus has become so familiar to me that I know it like the back of my hand. If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self these things.

Looking back on all four years of my high school career, I’ve made countless memories, made friends, shed both happy and sad tears, laughed through the hard times, and experienced it all. From taking my first AP class to cramming in my assignments, I was able to get through them because of the people who were alongside me through this journey. To be honest, there were times throughout high school where I regretted things and destroyed myself. I was at some of my lowest points, and I didn’t know how I was going to get through them. But despite all the stress I experienced and all the lessons I learned, I realized that it was going to be OK. Sure, I regret not taking more of those APs and not putting myself out there, but I’m proud of myself for all that I have done, specifically during my senior year.

Near the end of my junior year, everything started to take a mental toll on me. To say that senior year was any better wouldn’t be true. Being in Orchesis has always been one of my dreams in high school even though I knew I never would make it. So, when I mustered up the courage to try out and I didn’t make it, it stung a lot; and honestly, I doubted my decision to try out in the first place. At that moment, I impulsively picked Concert Choir to replace Orchesis. However, on registration day, my initial excitement soon turned into disappointment. I was told that both Choir and Journalism were both first period classes, so I had to choose from either one. Torn between the two, I didn’t know what to choose. As I had a role in Quill and having been in that class for a while, I was hesitant about my decision. I remember one of the counselors telling me that she would talk to Ms. Tu and that all I could right now was figure out if Quill could be changed to a different period. The day before school I checked Powerschool and received an email from Ms. Tu saying that I made it in. From then on I decided to join Chanteurs, and it really healed a part of me that I didn’t know it would.

That once shy, introverted girl blossomed into a more confident person who knew her boundaries and found the people who cared about her.

As I turn the page to a new chapter I’d like to say this to my underclassmen: don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, try out for that team, and take those risks. If you never try, you never know. Trust me, you’ll surprise yourself!

And thank you to everyone who has been there for me along the way:
My parents, who were my biggest and #1 supporters
My friends, who were my hype girls and support system
And my teachers, who were thoughtful mentors and role models each and every school day

As I get ready to turn the page, the song “Slipping Through My Fingers” plays in my head. I might not know what the future holds for me, but I trust the next chapter because I know the author.