Senior Sendoff

This was an essay commissioned for my Creative Writing course in my last semester of high school. I was nostalgically searching through my circa-2004 documents, and came upon this. The assignment was a senior reflection. Reading it has elicited mixed feelings:

a) The inept writing is hard to palate.
b) I was a MASSIVE goober. (still am?)
c) In consolation, the premise is semi-reasonable.
d) My high school totally did look like a run-down airport.

Enjoy:

Subconsciously, I’d always dreamed of high school being like that show on MTV, Laguna Beach. Everyone in high school is gorgeous and rich, and it’s perpetually sunny and warm, even the “nerds” drive Mercedes-Benz convertibles to school. Besides some exciting everyday high school drama, high school is essentially one big happy party after another. Unfortunately, entering the likes of Lincoln High School my freshman year shattered those dreams. Stepping into the halls of Lincoln is a little like stepping into the concourse of a run-down airport, complete with terminals A-E, although I’ve never figured out the D-wing. Lincoln High School certainly isn’t glamorous, nor, frankly, are the people in it. It’s depressing at times, talking to people who go to schools with swimming pools, and Macintosh computer labs, and…tanner girls, but despite the misgivings and cold temperatures surrounding Lincoln High School, it is my high school, and my memories from it will last a lifetime. So, at the very least, I should embrace my memories, and reflect on the good times I did have.

To me, the most amazing aspect of high school is the tremendous changes I have made from the beginning of freshman year to now. The most prominent and obvious of changes was in height. I went from the 5’0” freshman, codename “Smalls,” to the taller-than-my-grandma senior I am now. Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve become classier. I was quite the nerd as a freshman. A nerd without a Mercedes-Benz at that! But, although I’m still nerdy, I’ve grown a little less socially inept. I’m able to dress nicer, talk lower thanks to puberty, and have a few conversations each day that don’t deal with video games. Perhaps none of this has that much to do with high school, but at the same time, I’ve never honestly concentrated that much on high school itself. I’ve enjoyed debating, and playing my trombone, and tennis, but to be honest, the classes themselves haven’t consumed a large majority of my time. But, that’s okay. Participating in myriad activities, for me, is more rewarding and educational than just focusing on classes. I love to learn, and my interests are scattered all over the place. It’ss why I’ve never been able to focus on one thing. That’s what made high school such a memorable experience for me, though. The broad amount of activities and trips and groups has allowed me to experience incredible things over the last four years, and through that I’ve learned about myself and what my interests are. That’s been my philosophy throughout high school: Try everything, and pursue what you like. I’d recommend that to everyone, because the knowledge I’ve gained about myself will help me choose, later on in life, a career or hobby that I’ll love. Past high school and college, there’s no more participating in every club and hobby available. My job will take most of my time, but what I’ve learned in high school will help me find something that I love and allow me to do it for the rest of my life. I’m grateful for all the opportunities high school has afforded me, and look forward to pursuing some of them for many more years.

High school is a learning experience, and using it as one has made my four years truly memorable and rewarding ones. I have no regrets, just excitement for the next stage of my life and what it will bring. Seize the day, it’s what made high school the incredible experience it was, and it’s what will make college the learning experience I look forward to. Goodbye, Lincoln.