Boy, were you something. Thank you for all of the experiences – the good, the bad, the funny, the weird, and the unexplainable. No offense, but I would never want to go through you again. I am appreciative, however, that I am nearly done with you and moving forward in the next chapter of my life. I would also like to express gratitude for the many opportunities you provided me and the lessons you served me. High school had its ups and downs, but I prefer to see things on the brighter side so instead of talking down on my experiences, I’d like to say ‘thank you,’ and share some advice.

• • ASB – Where do I even start? Okay, this is going to sound outlandish, but Leadership is literally my life. The past four years of my life has revolved around this spirited extracurricular. I’m constantly up to something;  whether it’s setting up for a dance, blowing up balloons, painting posters, or even selling dance tickets. I’ve grown so accustomed to walking into room 1005 and spending most of my days in there the past four years. I’m especially thankful for Leadership because I’ve been introduced to some of the bestest friends I could ever have. It’s definitely going to be hard letting go of my Balloon Committee, and I’ll forever cherish our retreats, because those were definitely for the books. Leadership has allowed me to get the most out of high school, and I did, as I’ve never missed out on a single dance, football game, or dress up day. I’ll miss busting out balloon arches and other eye-catching balloon creations with Sega, the other half to my special “ASB President to my ASB Vice-President duo.”
  • Teachers – Whoever said your teachers can’t be your friends was utterly wrong. I’ve formed some of the best bonds with a few of my teachers throughout high school. These teachers, in particular, have all contributed to my success. I’ve felt at my best whenever I was learning in their classroom. Some of these teachers include Mrs. Tackett, Mr. Teran, Mr. Castle, and Ms. Garcia. These teachers will fight tooth and nail for their students. It is also notable that they are bound to never give up on any of their students. I’ve never felt more comfortable to ask for help or ask for advice from these teachers. If you’ve never spoken to any of these teachers at Selma High, I strongly suggest you do. They have a heart for their students and are sure to leave a positive impact on you. 
  • Learning – I love the feeling of learning. I can’t really describe it, but you know that one feeling you get when you’ve really mastered and understand a concept? It’s like a little click in your mind. Yeah, I live for that feeling! Especially in one of my most rigorous classes like my Statistics class. I feel like I’m on top of the world when I grasp a difficult concept.
  • Studying –  I’m proud to say that I’ve never had to pull an all-nighter to finish homework or study. The latest I would stay up was 11:00 pm. Personally, I feel like I handled assignments and studying in an organized way. Staying on top of your work is significant. Being organized in your assignments and managing your time is truly an accomplishing feeling. I truly believe my organization and time management has played a really big role in landing me in the Top 25 of my class, and I’m forever grateful I never slipped up.
  • Creativity – I am so thankful for the arts and crafts. I consider myself a really creative person, and I enjoy spending my free time beading, painting, sewing, and journaling. Throughout high school, I found myself participating in these activities to escape any stress or anxiety. I strongly encourage others to find something, anything, they’re good at, and use it as a pastime or escape throughout their years in high school. It’ll really help free up space in your mind and allow you a peace of mind. It’s good for our mental health to take a break sometimes and indulge in forms of  self-care. My passion for creativity and mental health awareness has inspired me to start my own club my senior year of high school. Your Mind Matters, a club I started with my best friends, is a club that advocates for mental health awareness. Within this club, we recently held a district-wide sock drive for the homeless and mentally ill of our community. We received a total of 237 pairs of socks, and it was really a warm feeling to give back. Though this club was very small, I am forever grateful for it and our small community project we completed. Without my creativity, I wouldn’t have been able to start something I am so passionate about at my school. Creativity has led me to the light from dark holes. 
  • Friendships – It’s okay to only have two trustworthy, reliable friends. By the end of high school I didn’t end up with as many friends I started high school with. It’s okay to outgrow others and it’s totally fine to make new friendships. I’ve really learned to branch out of certain friendships – not that certain friends are bad – but it’s healthy to do so. Friends come and go, and I’m thankful for the lessons and experiences each one of them has taught me. 
  • Ignoring harassment  – THIS. This was a big lesson high school taught me. As one who is in a position of great involvement in various things, I’ve learned that people from all different social groups will have something to say about you. There’s always going to be somebody trying to tear you down. It doesn’t matter though, because you owe nobody an explanation. Your every flaw and weakness will be exploited and used against you, testing your character beyond any reasonable limit. High school has taught me to have thick skin. I’ve mastered the art of not letting other people throw their insecurities onto me. The trick is, as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter who says what about you. Half of the time, the people labeling you, are unhappy with themselves. Pray for them. 

• Growth – DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. Being the Capricorn that I am, I always strive for perfection – and it’s had both positive and negative tolls on me. Throughout high school I expected nothing less than an ‘A’ in all of my classes. In my junior year, I was set for a little surprise. Though one ‘B’ didn’t kill me, I continued to strive for perfection. Remember, you can be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously. I’ve come to realize that as much as my grades matter to me, so does my happiness and my sanity. As long as you’re learning and growing, that’s all that matters. School isn’t always about perfect scores; it’s about your ability to learn something genuinely… AND STILL PASS THE CLASS. I am not in any way condoning bad grades here. 

High school has allowed me the opportunity to get to know myself better, experience, and fail. I’ve learned to laugh when I could, let go of the things I can’t change, take chances, give everything my 110% and have no regrets. It’s given me an idea of what I want to do in life. I hope college provides me the same, if not better, opportunities and experiences. I’m looking forward to the next level of education that awaits me. I am beyond excited for what my future has to hold for me. I am looking forward to progressing my education, meeting new friends, practicing my talents, and practicing my faith at Fresno Pacific University. Go Sunbirds!

Truly, 

Brandi Aguilera