“I can’t wait to graduate!” Something every high schooler has said at least once in their life. As I’m sitting here two months into my senior year all I can think about is how fast time went. It’s hard to think that only three years ago I was a freshman standing at the top of the student section at the football games; to now being in the first row leading the chants. I just want to slow time down and be able to cherish the moments I have with what seems like the people I have known my whole life.
Growing up isn’t easy, at the beginning all we say is I can’t wait to be older and be able to do certain things, but no one prepares you for the day you have to leave everything behind as you start your next chapter. With my last year of high school coming to an end, I am full of regrets. I wish I had focused my time on the here and now instead of being so tangled up with all the negative things happening. Time spent worrying about what people thought or said about me prevented me from enjoying life and making positive memories that I could look back on now. I wish that I had taken peoples’ advice more seriously instead of thinking it was all a joke. I’ve been told many times that your childhood goes by quickly, but I never took it seriously. As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
As I reflect on these 17 years, although there are regrets, I have acquired many lessons that will help me succeed in my next chapter and my life. These lessons have come from many different points in my life, but one that sticks out was in 2021 when my brother had a stroke and I thought it was the last time I would talk to him. In that same year, my dad was involved in a terrible car accident where he rolled 12 times, both of these instances showed me that anything could happen at any moment and I learned to be more appreciative of what I had and to not take life for granted. Along with these lessons I have also acquired good relationships with teachers, coaches, and friends that I will gladly hang on to for the rest of my life. They have taught me how to be a better individual and to persevere when we encounter hardships in life.
Although there are hardships throughout high school, these last four years have been nothing short of memorable. Though this is the end of an era, but a start to a new chapter. It’s where I have to start making decisions on my own. Though all the times I said to myself, “I can’t wait to graduate, I’m so glad I have only a couple of months left,” in reality, I don’t want to graduate just yet and leave the people I have known behind. They have been with me through the good times, but also the hard times. I have made countless memories with these people and have created the closest bonds with them. I’ve realized that everyone has their next chapter and moves on with their life, but it’s shown me that the memories you create with people can have an impact. I know that what I have learned from the past 17 years has prepared me for the coming years and will enable me to be successful in pursuing a career in what I am passionate about.
