It amazes me how I never realized how quickly the end of my high school life would approach. It feels like just yesterday I was playing dress up in the one-bedroom apartment my mother and I shared. A lot has changed since then, I don’t wear my hair braided anymore, and those dresses I once wore slowly lost their fairytale feel. I often feel as the odd one out whenever talking about graduation because for others, they dread or love high school. I, on the other hand, can’t wait to graduate. Graduation party, freedom, no phone pouches, and no more staying up all night to memorize essays—who wouldn’t want that to approach more quickly? I can go on a rant about how many times I wanted to give up, but without these experiences, I wouldn’t be me. Only me, myself, and I have known what I’ve accomplished despite the challenges I face when nobody is around. If I learned one thing in high school it was to ignore the doubters and individuals who think they know you better than yourself. There will always be those who are envious of your life, and others who bring you up and want the best for you. Those are the kind of people you don’t let go of.
I will always cherish my elementary school memories because there was no stress to begin with. I always had good grades, 100% on my spelling tests, and a mother who supplied my class with water and snacks just because. I was that one kid who was overly competitive about class dojo points. I still remember I had the most points in my fourth grade class and was so proud of it. My best year of elementary school had to be 4th grade with Mrs. Wilson. Her classroom and style of teaching was unique and that’s what stuck with me the most. In elementary school, I was very shy but I’m glad I knew how to push myself to leave my comfort zone. I have found that I have not changed much, rather I have kept consistent habits. I believe that change might not always be something you must work towards.
But it took me until senior year to realize I didn’t want to be different or completely unrecognizable. I just wanted to be myself with higher expectations. I used to enjoy socializing with big groups, even if that meant they weren’t good friends. I slowly progressed to having a small circle, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The quantity might not compare but the quality of the friends I have now is a comfort.
Everything changed when middle school started up in the year of 2020. During this year, COVID-19 intruded the lives of many, stripping myself of a normal 6th and 7th grade experience. The transition from elementary to middle school is always bumpy, but COVID made this transition extra bumpy, with potholes along the way. I was going through a lot mentally and physically with absolutely no guidance. I parted from living with my mother to live with my grandparents during this time as well. There were countless times where nobody understood me or where I had to throw on a smile and keep going. A lot of my motivation came from school life, where I found comfort in being a friend or student, not just a daughter or granddaughter. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all that my grandparents and family have done for me, but it feels nice to be seen as me despite my story. I find that a lot of the time, after someone learns my story, they look at me with eyes full of pity instead of seeing me for Mia.
Finally, high school is where I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I became friends with people who wanted to see me succeed and support me. I also have been with my boyfriend all four years of high school, who is my best friend as well. I have had amazing teachers throughout high school who have greatly impacted my life. Starting off Freshman year, I decided to take a great leap and take English honors 1. This was the best decision I made as a freshman. My English and current Journalism teacher Mr. Castle saw potential in me, and this really did more than words could explain for me. The best memories from his class would have to be Mr. Castle side-tracking and telling the class stories. His class truly made the learning experience meaningful. The experiences I’ve had at SHS taught me valuable lessons while patching up a part of me that was missing. Ultimately, there were multiple pros and cons to high school, but the memories and people I have met along the way made it so worth it.
Love, Mia Michelle Betancourt.
