It’s finally here, my official last week of high school. After this week, it’s over. No more Starbucks runs during lunch, no more wandering the halls, and no more sitting in my car instead of going to class (I’m going strong on 116 absences this year). Usually, you would think this is a happy moment, finally having the freedom to do whatever you want and being an adult in the real world. But this past month has caused me to reminisce a lot, cry a lot and appreciate the good memories a whole lot more.

   Last week I was wishing I never had to go to school ever again, hoping May 27th would come quicker. In the midst of this awkward, fun, and sometimes depressing four years of high school, I’ve discovered who I am and who I’m meant to be. Below are a few things that I’ve come to realize with only 5 short days left at Damascus High.

Appreciate What You Have

   My sophomore year was by far my most fun year of high school. I had tons of friends, I had great grades, and I was playing a bunch of sports, but then COVID hit. You truly don’t realize how good you have it until it’s gone. I went from talking to tons of people every day, to only having four or five friends. Think about all the people you talk to at school in a single day… imagine all that being taken from you. As you get older (I am only 17…I’m by no means “old”) you realize having a smaller circle of best friends is so much more fun than having 20 friends. Although COVID was a prevalent and serious pandemic, I am truly thankful for the close friends I made during quarantine. It truly made me put everything into perspective and appreciate my life a little bit more.

Everything Happens For a Reason

   That one friend you stopped talking to? That is the reason you are friends with the people around you today. You cried when you almost failed chemistry because you wanted to be a neuroscience major? That is why you’re studying mass communications in the fall and already have a paid sports reporting job. Losing a bunch of friends at the beginning of your senior year? That is why you now have friends that make you happier than ever. I’ve learned that although things may seem to be the end of the world at the moment, they truly do happen for a reason. Although I used to study brain surgery videos in hopes that I would be able to be a neurosurgeon (I know… I was such a nerd), realizing I was awful at chemistry really put me in the position I am today and I couldn’t be more content with my life. 

Don’t Wish Your High School Years Away

   Three months ago you could catch me saying, “I can’t wait to graduate. I’m so ready to get out of this place and go to college.” Looking back now, I wish I would’ve lived in the moment more. Instead of wishing I was in college, I wish I would’ve looked around me and lived out these moments. You only get one high school experience, why wish it away? As graduation gets closer, I realize all that I will be leaving behind in this small town. The house I grew up in, my wonderful parents, my best friend I’ve had for over seven years (shout-out Jessica), and even Damascus High School. In three short months, nothing will be the same, and I wish I would’ve appreciated my senior year a lot more.

High School Relationships are HILARIOUS

   I wish I could go back in time to laugh at my underclassman self, I was seriously 15 years old sitting in my room crying because a SENIOR liked my friend and not me…who did I think I was? As a senior myself now, I realized how funny high school relationships are. I mean no disrespect to the couples at DHS. For the most part, I find them adorable and genuine. But come on??? Seeing two people making out in the hallway while I’m trying to get to my 6th-period English class is not something I want to ever see again. 

Be Yourself

   In my first few years of high school, I tried to be the perfect teenager. I was fake, my personality was ingenuine and I really had to hide my true personality from a lot of people. Being “popular” or “cool” really means nothing in the grand scheme of things. You don’t need to have a large friend group, be dating a star athlete and have all these materialistic objects. I mean this in the nicest way possible: people really don’t care all that much about you, so why hide your personality? If you surround yourself with people who make you feel loved, that’s all you really need in life. Don’t change yourself for the validation and approval of others like I did. If I could go back in time and change me doing that, I 100% would. 

   It’s your senior year, so let your hair down and enjoy yourself. It’s fine to make jokes, and it’s also fine to skip a night of homework to attend a party or sports game. You’re only young once! You’ve worked hard for four years and deserve a break. It wouldn’t be your senior year if you weren’t laughing, joking and having a wonderful time with people you love.

You Will Miss Everything

   As my final days of being a Hornet approach, I realized how much I will miss it. Here’s a list of small things that I will miss the most.

• Driving to school in the morning.
• Sitting in my car in the student parking lot talking about meaningless things with my friends. 
• Making the yearbook.
• Having parties in journalism and arguing over Harry Styles and Justin Bieber.
• Watching movies in class.
• Napping in class (something about those desks makes me have the best sleep ever.)
• Playing games in math class when I really should be paying attention.
• Football, basketball and lacrosse games.
• And most importantly, the teachers who have shaped me into the person I am today.

Greater Things Are Ahead

   One final thing I’ve realized is that I’ve grown to adore all of my classmates above all else, and I wish them nothing but the best in the years ahead. I know that just as they make me happy, they’ll all be providing that same happiness to others in universities, trade schools and businesses around the country–and every one of you will kill it.