We’ll…we’re basically done with our senior year if you think about it. No more having to wake up at 5 am to do last minute studying for AP Government exams. Or having to drag myself into that car every day of the week even though I felt like staying home in my covers.
These past few years, for me, have been a winding road of opportunities. Highschool has shaped me with unexpected experiences that have allowed me to realize the full potential within myself. We have this expectation of high school being like a “movie,” but we don’t realize that although it’s not as expected, it’s more pure and better.
I will never be around the same four people that I see every morning, or have that experience of telling them my little interactions with some dumb boy (Sorry to my group who had to put up with it. LOVE Y’ALL). Now that I’m thinking about it, high school was really the prime age of experiencing everything, from your first love to your first betrayal. High school is actually the main foundation of your teenage life, kind of bitter sweet not going to lie. It’s very emotional thinking about leaving all this behind and having to pass by here in 10 years and having all those memories flood back. I literally still can’t imagine that we’re BASICALLY ADULTS.
When I think about my high school experience, the first song that pops into my head is “Vienna” by Billy Joel. I created this sense of rush and eagerness to rise above everything while not realizing, we don’t need to satisfy anyone else but ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you don’t take that AP class or play that sport, go make memories with your friends because sooner or later it will all slip out of your fingers. The lyrics “ You can’t be everything you wanna be before your time” resonates deeply on how we as students are too harsh on ourselves which is crazy because we are all worth more than our grades. I remember my sister looking at the top 25 GPAs and was shocked on how we as a class have been one of the most exceeding students. Although it’s amazing, do remember that everything will fall into place, live your life please.
Anywho, I’m not going to lie, high school did bring me my biggest downfalls. From staying up on facetime till 3 am finishing up the last of studying for AP Biology exams that had my sanity on a line. To crying about the score I got ALTHOUGH I studied for literally hours. Yes, high school tested my patience on whether or not I was actually fit for education, although I did genuinely like coming to school. That would be thanks to some teachers I’ve had over the years that although made me stress so bad I wanted to cry thinking about their workload (maybe I did…), they taught me more than I expected to gain.
Thank you Ms. Plascencia for enhancing my love for English and showcasing that art can be conveyed through many unique aspects. I really loved how your odd twist of teaching actually made me realize we had similar views, making learning so much enjoyable. I will definitely miss your very straightforward remarks to our class, they were more funny than offensive. You were one of the teachers I actually enjoyed walking into your class daily. Your classroom was a comforting environment for me and it was actually very easy to talk to you. In a way, you reminded me of a big sister and I will genuinely miss your class so much!
Thank you Mr. Castle who gave me the opportunity to be in this class, allowing me to gain a true passion for writing that I never thought I would withhold. It’s funny how although I’ve taken basically all your classes, I still somehow never got tired of walking into your room on a daily basis. Your dad jokes must’ve been the reason why (IM JOKING…maybe). Genuinely, I’m gonna miss your interesting stories with your one or two crushes. They never failed to make us laugh. Although your class made me think too hard and made me question if I was even understanding English, I really did enjoy it. It was a pleasure being part of your journalism class that opened a new horizon for me and I will truly miss everything!
Lastly, thank you Mr. Johnson for making me love politics more than I already did. Everyday walking into your class was an interesting experience as we never knew what we would be speaking upon. Your views and insights inspired me to actually take an educational route into law so thank you. Not going to lie, I’m going to miss hearing your rants about the President’s work and how the government system has its flaws and stuff.
If I’m being honest, I think the real reason I was able to survive high school is because of my friends. From the fights we had to the laughter we would let out at the wrong time in class, we created the most genuine bonds that will forever be in my heart.
Walking into high school I honestly never imagined how many people I would actually get along with. Yossra, seeing you created a sense of comfort on the first day of high school because you were one of the most genuine friends I ever made. I will forever cherish our crash outs due to AP Bio and our out of pocket conversations we would have with Gianna during AP Lang. Just know that Davis is LITERALLY in California and not in Texas so we’re not that far (BTW I was gonna go to Texas to be a Longhorn 
). Also so sorry Yoss for introducing you to The Weeknd although it was the best memory I have of us. Elisa and Nae Nae, my two closest friends from elementary school, don’t think I forgot yall! We are basically the Three Musketeers if you think about it. Regardless of the moment, whether it was a problem regarding school or some friend, you guys have always been there for me through thick and thin and I will never forget that. Helen, you were the only one who actually got my cowboy obsession so THANK YOU! You definitely brought out the best of our group and made my senior year more memorable. Each and every one of you (even if you weren’t mentioned) have created this mark in my chapter that is closing and that won’t be erased.
Even though I’m committed to UC Davis for Political Science, there’s that inner part of me who is terrified of not finding my place there or even worse not finding my people. What if I don’t get that college experience or make those memories that you see in movies? I know life is never like the movies or how we pictured it to be but I just hope that this chapter in my LONGGG book can be the best one yet. I won’t lie, I will miss hearing Yossra’s interesting language on a daily basis, or making Nae Nae mad at my intrusive thoughts about my celebrity crushes. Also, I will miss walking into Clarion and saying my daily “Hi Michael” and then going to Aneka and filling her up with the “scandal” I had for the day (I SWEAR, there was no scandal…). However I do know that wherever I go, I will hope ALL of yall will remember me when you see Harry Styles! Thank you y’all for this interesting four years, goodluck on each and everyone of yall’s future. GOODBYE and if you need a lawyer find me in eight years!
