Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Time doesn’t stop. You won’t be in high school forever. As I am inching closer to graduation this reality is finally hitting me. It is both positive and negative because I have so much to look forward to, but I will soon be leaving the comfort of Westborough and my childhood. In the last few weeks of high school, I have been trying to follow Ferris Bueller’s words of wisdom, because life does move fast. One day I was asking a custodian where the gym is and now I am seven days away from graduation. I try my best to stop and take it in because the present moment is forever passing.

I have spent the past thirteen years learning and growing with everyone in the class of 2024. In high school, I learned the importance of relationships. I am so thankful to have been surrounded by so many good people over the past thirteen years. The friendships that I have developed throughout high school have helped create some of my greatest memories. Although my friendships have had their ups and downs I always knew that there would be people there for me. The quantity of friendships is not important, however it is important to find genuine people in your life. I was so lucky to have met the friends that I have today and I encourage you to seek out or hold onto the good relationships in your life.

We grew up together and learned how to be ourselves together. Discovering who I was was not an easy feat. I struggled a lot in middle school and was a very self-conscious kid and I didn’t know who I was. The first lesson I learned in high school was to not care about what others think of you. You will always regret not doing something because you thought you would be judged. I was fortunate enough to learn this lesson early on, which allowed me to explore all aspects of myself throughout high school. 

I would consider myself to be a relatively active high school student. I played multiple team sports, was a member of different clubs, and figure skated. Although, by doing so many things I was never really able to become “the best” at something, I was able to learn so many core lessons from each of my activities. By playing lacrosse, field hockey, and racing for the ski team, I learned the value of teamwork and gained many friendships because of these sports. By joining clubs and starting my club, Westborough Helps the Homeless, I learned what leadership looks like. Finally, I learned the most from figure skating. I have been skating since I was a kid and it has been a huge part of my life. Last weekend I had my last skating show before college and with a heavy heart I said goodbye to my solo skating career. I am so thankful for everything skating has brought to me and would like to thank my coach, Ann. She has not only been my coach but my mentor the past few years and I would not be where I am today in my skating career without her. She has seen every part of my life and has truly helped me grow into the person I am today. If I could pick out the most important lesson skating has taught me, it would be to get up. I credit all of my grit, mental strength, and determination to this sport and am sincerely grateful to have figure skated.

I wanted to quickly say thank you to some important people…

My family…Thank you Mom and Dad for always giving me the best advice, always being a shoulder to cry on and always supporting me. You guys are my rock and I am so grateful to have a family that is filled with love. As I have grown up you have always been there for me, I know you will always be there for me even after this phase of my life ends and I will always have a place to come home to. Rian and Jack, you are the best brothers I could ever ask for, I will miss you guys next year, but I am excited to be able to come home and watch you guys continue to grow.

Thank you to all my teachers especially, Mr. Noonan, Ms. Conrad, and Mrs. Henderson. Mr. Noonan’s classes have taught me so much and have truly changed the way I think. Ms. Conrad, you have been an amazing Journalism teacher and I am beyond impressed with all you have done with the Lobby O. You have truly helped us reach our potential as journalists, and I know that in years to come you will continue to improve the course and newspaper. Lastly, Mrs. Henderson, you have taught me so much and have been a huge role model in my journalism career. Thank you for helping me with all of my broadcasts and revealing to me what I truly love to do. 

It is surreal how fast high school went by. When I was a freshman in high school, seniors seemed so grown up and old, but now I am that grown up, old, senior that is about to graduate. People always say that once you graduate high school, you start your life, but I don’t believe that. My life has already started. My life started in Westborough, Massachusetts where I met all of my friends, found my passions, and grew up to be the person I am today. So, with just seven days until I am done with this era of my life, I am unbelievably grateful to have had my life start here.

For the last time… this is Maggie Hanlon signing off.