To think that there are only a few months of high school left honestly terrifies me. I remember eagerly yearning to graduate and leave this small town forever and never look back. However, as time progresses it has only left me more attached to this small town of Selma that I call home, or maybe it’s simply the people I will miss most.
As college acceptances roll in, my mother’s eyes fill with tears for she knows her first child will soon leave her. As the days pass, the more squirmy my little sister becomes as she waits by the door for me to return from school, to only be left waiting for the day I don’t come back from college. The emptiness of a bedroom, the absence of laughter in the air, or the simple warm presence of knowing their child and sister is home is what will be missing, leaving me saddened that in just a couple months, I won’t be there. I won’t be there to listen to my three-year-old sister say new words or be there when she falls, to laugh at and to help of course. I won’t be there to watch my mom and dad make bets on who will win the soccer match, América or Chivas. I won’t be there to watch UFC or boxing fights to see my dad jump and scream in excitement.
As I come to school everyday, I am only reminded of the time I have left with my best friends. Our daily laughter, gossip, and everlasting smiles will always be embedded in my mind. I will remember the difficulty of planning hangouts, which are not for the weak. I will remember all of this because in just a couple months we will have our last table talks, our last jokes, and our last walks down the halls. The friendships I have created this year will be ones that I will cherish forever. As the time ticks, I will keep in mind the smiles formed, the belly aches created from heavy laughter, and the new knowledge gained from each of them.
Selma High will also be the place I played soccer for the last time. As a four year varsity athlete on the girls soccer team, I have made the most cherishable memories as each new generation joins the team. From the times we couldn’t even pass the first round of league to becoming Tri-County Sequoia League Champions after 15 years last year. I have not only gained skills in the game of soccer, but friendships that will last a lifetime. I will miss the bus rides to games, the vlogs created that created immense laughter, and the endless snacks my bestfriend and I shared with others at games. Through the wins and losses, it was always a learning experience that I will use in the future to stay determined and persevere.
Academically, there was much hand-holding in the classes I attained but I will always remember the teachers who truly pushed me to be the best version of myself. Mr. Castle will always be the person who pushed me to write stories of my life and interpret them into words and ultimately use computer programs to craft the aesthetics of The Clarion. The Clarion is where I have been able to write my gratitude towards my grandmother for her sacrifices as an immigrant, my love for soccer, my admiration for my little sister, and my love for my Mexican culture. Mr. Castle will always be a teacher I remember as someone who has given me talent in computer programs to create the layout of the school newspaper and allow my voice to be heard.
Mr. Terán will always be the person I have truly resonated with. His topics of the gender gap, racial inequities, real life scenarios and how you can implement statistics, and how a growth mindset sets a person apart from the rest for the better. His AP Statistics class taught me about my own life. There are less than two percent of Hispanic women working in health professions that require an advanced degree, one of the lowest compared to other races of women and men. I learned to analyze my own chances of working in the medical field. This percentage has only inspired me to do more for my people and showcase the determination of what a Hispanic woman can truly implement. Though statistics can show your probability, it can also showcase your breakthrough of a barrier.
As terrifying as graduating and the real world is, I’ve succumbed to feeling reassured because I made the most of my high school experience and you should too. Remember the smiles you make with your parents and siblings, the rolling laughter with friends, and the teachers who gave you the knowledge you needed because one day you will leave this all, but always remember it. Cherish it a little longer and don’t let it slip so easily.
This has only made the past more memorable and the future a little less terrifying. I will archive these moments into my mind forever and make new folders for what is to come.
