A Look Back

High school. Awful, stressful, dramatic, yet amazing. Each day we hear complaints; of stress, of disgust, or of smelly halls. These complaints are a given. It’s high school and we’re teenagers. Forever destined to be together, yet forever determined to stand apart. Not a day goes by that each and every one of us doesn’t have a complaint — but there comes a point when we realize maybe it’s not half bad.

As I’ve walked down these halls for the past four wonderful years of my life, I’ve whined and complained just like anyone else. I surely won’t miss the busywork in classes or certain things we all see or hear in the hallway. There are plenty of ways to make high school a negative place, but there’s a whole different side to it.

We step foot in the building as lowly freshmen, longing to be the big dogs one day. Next thing you know, you’re an upperclassman — that’s when it really hits you. You’ve got so many decisions to make in the next two years that will define your life. Whether good or bad, these decisions will impact so much as you choose a path for your future. For two years, so much time is spent making decisions and planning for the future, that sometimes we forget about all of the good times.

For me, high school has created so many amazing memories. Whether it be the memories from under the lights every Friday, the endless times goofing around in class, or just good times outside of school, I am thankful for every memory. These four years have truly been the best years of my life. Sometimes we don’t realize we are in the good times until we are looking back.

So for the up-and-coming: don’t forget to cherish the moment. You’ll have your whole life to work and you’ll have your whole life to watch Netflix. Have fun and be thankful for the amazing times your friends give you. As unrealistic as it seems, the person sitting next to you right now might be living across the country from you in two years. You might only see your lifelong best friend during holidays. If it hasn’t started for you already, everything will begin to change. So with that in mind, just live in the moment. As stressful as scholarships, applications, and everything that comes with senior year can be, don’t let them run your life. In the end, the memories are what will last a lifetime.