When I was a little girl I loved to skip from stone to stone on the path to my backyard garden, trying my very best not to step on the dirt between each rock. Ever since then, I have viewed the most eminent changes in my life as a leap toward the next stepping stone. Yet, this feels like the hardest jump I’ve needed to make in my life so far.
“I have plenty of time.” Must be the most repeated phrase in my mind my entire high school career, and the time where I don’t get to say it anymore is here. The truth is, I don’t have plenty of time, and this shift is starting to knock the wind out of me. Although I wish I could use my D1 procrastinating skills and put off graduation until I felt like it, I know this change will be good for me no matter how afraid I am. Change isn’t meant to be easy; it’s change.
I feel like I’ve lived different lives each year here at Selma High, making me discover new aspects of myself as time passes by. Freshman year I was overly awkward hiding behind a COVID mask, sophomore year I was a crab coming out of its shell, junior year I was a simple wreck, and now my senior year I am full of resilience and recovering from the ride I was put through the last three years. Losing my sanity over grades, however, is definitely the trait I shared throughout all four years. Although I have always held myself to an impossibly high standard and have dealt with loads of disappointment, I now look back and see the hard work I did and smile to myself, I’m proud of myself.
The support systems I’ve had throughout my years of high school have contributed immensely into the person I am today. I will forever be grateful for the teachers who allowed me to express myself and helped me with anything beyond the basic curriculum they needed to teach. Friends who were able to place a wide smile on my face and make me laugh until I felt sick are truly blessings sent from above. I don’t know where I’d be without my giggle breaks at school.
Beyond the walls of these classrooms, I have also learned that you win some and you lose some, and it’ll never define who you are. Nobody knows you better than yourself. Although my legs are trembling in fear while building up my stamina to make this big jump, I know deep down this will be the greatest jump of my life. I will finally be accomplishing my dream of going away to college and getting to know the world outside of the Central Valley.
I know that when I land on this next stone I will be overcome with sadness and fear, but once I regain my balance I will be exhilarated for what’s to come. Investing in myself is my number one priority and I can not wait for my journey to finally begin.
