There is this overwhelming pressure for high school to be the most exciting four years of your life- to make it feel like a scene out of High School Musical with moments that make the whole thing seem utterly perfect. When your experience is far from the expectation, it’s easy to feel as though, in comparison, your time was less meaningful than others. 

I don’t have any huge story with a dramatic ending. To most, my experience is probably really boring. But at the end of the day, I found the friends who lift me up, the teachers who care about how I do, and I have my family. Even though it felt monotonous at times, I know that I’ve grown, both as a student and as a person. Because of that, I don’t regret any part of the journey that got me to this point. 

Looking back, comparison has been my greatest enemy. For a long time, I was in a constant cycle of looking around and wondering if I was falling behind simply because I hadn’t hit the same milestone as others. Trying to measure up to what my friends and classmates were doing (and failing at it) made me doubt my abilities as a student, and I felt like no matter how hard I worked, I was always a step behind. 

That’s the first lesson I learned: don’t define your goals or base your self-esteem on a scale that includes other people. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but the moment you stop measuring your accomplishments against others is when you can truly appreciate how much you’ve grown. When trying so hard to be like someone else, you tend to lose yourself. No matter where you are, in terms of school or anything else, you will make progress, and that is the most important part, regardless of how others are doing. 

I never felt that I had to compare myself to my classmates when it came to journalism; it was always a safe space for me. But honestly, when I first started in Journalism 1, I hated the class. The issue wasn’t the subject matter; it was the fact that I had to interact with new people. Up until this point, I had always kept to myself as I had my two good friends; what more did I need?  But, Mrs. Stoker did not settle for my silence. 

For that, I will forever be grateful. Mrs. Stoker, you pushed me out of my comfort zone and introduced me to the subject I grew to love- something I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own. You taught me to speak up for myself, but also for the issues that matter to me. Your constant encouragement and support have been one of the things I cherish the most about my high school experience. I am so lucky to have had you as a teacher, but more importantly, a mentor. I can only hope to impact others’ lives the way you have mine. Thank you for everything. 

On the topic of change, that’s my second lesson: the longer you stay in your box, the more it starts to feel like a cage- step out of it. Change is scary, I can advocate for that too, but with it comes the opportunity for something new. You will never know the experiences that you’re missing if you stay settled in your current state. Sometimes, the only way forward is to take the jump and hope that whatever awaits you on the other side treats you as well as, or better than, what came before. There is uncertainty there, but that’s the point. 

For me, one of the biggest and best changes I made was when I decided to take Journalism 2. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but jumping into broadcast journalism was uncharted territory. I didn’t know how I’d do, and I was scared out of my mind that I’d do poorly. Regardless, I took the leap of faith, and when I walked in on the first day of sophomore year, there was only one empty chair. It was at the table that Hannah Wallace and Grace Bridges were already sitting. Little did I know that this jump would lead me to two of my closest friends. 

Hannah and Grace, I truly cannot imagine these past three years without your friendship. I know that whenever I need a good laugh, I can count on Grace and her endless humor. And when I need good advice, Hannah is just a call away with the best ideas ready. The two of you have made my journalism experience unforgettable. I wouldn’t want to have spent my days at Westborough TV or on random journalism side quests with anyone else. 

The days we spent at Westborough TV feel endless. Starting with our “Day in the Life” videos, to producing full broadcasts on a bi-weekly basis, I am still amazed by everything we have created. Thank you to Karen Henderson and the staff at Westborough TV. You always gave us the tools and opportunities to bring our ideas to life and taught me so much about video editing and recording over the past three years. Studio 33 holds some of the best memories, and I hope future journalism classes appreciate it as much as we did. 

Journalism has been the one constant throughout my high school experience. If I were stressed about a test, I could sit down and write, and everything would feel better. Writing became my solace, and features became my favorite type of articles to put together. Whether it’s hearing about the current lives of WHS alumni or talking to the captains of a sports team, these are the stories that I enjoyed telling and hope to continue sharing in college. 

Alongside the writing and editing portion of the Lobby O, I loved the background work. During junior year, the class agreed that the website structure could be improved, so I took it upon myself to make those changes. Eventually, I put together the site that is up today. I am so proud to be able to leave a visible impact on the journalism program. 

It goes without saying that none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support from Ms. Conrad. I can’t imagine how you felt as a first-year teacher in a brand-new school, taking on the journalism classes. However hard it was, you were still patient with us as we were learning and made sure that everyone’s voices were heard. You gave me the freedom to work on the website and explore all the different parts of journalism that I wanted to. Thank you, Ms. Conrad, for being an amazing teacher and advisor these past two years and always believing in us. We wouldn’t have been able to continue the Lobby O without you. 

On to lesson number three: failure is a part of life- you can’t avoid it, so embrace it and learn from it. One of my previous teachers used to say, “Failure is good for the soul,” and it is, but only if you choose to take it as a lesson. There will be moments where things don’t go the way you expected them to, but you shouldn’t leave it there. The most important thing you can do when faced with failure is figure out how to change the outcome for the next time around and ask yourself what you can learn from this.

Failure showed up a lot for me during junior year, mostly because of AP U.S. History. I took the class knowing what its reputation was, knowing that it was a huge challenge. And it was. I failed the first quiz- actually, the first three. Despite the struggles, I worked my hardest, pushing through long nights with the textbook, and eventually it all paid off. 

What kept me in the class wasn’t the fact that I liked history; it was the way Mr. O’Brien taught the class. Thank you for making history come alive in a way the textbooks could never do. I am incredibly grateful for all of the faith you had in me as a student in your APUSH class, but also later as a senior navigating the college application process. You’ll call me crazy, but I would take your class again in a heartbeat. 

My last and final lesson is the most important one: notice the people who stand by you during rough times; those are the people you should hold on to. Don’t waste your time on people who would turn a blind eye to your struggles. Instead, put the work and effort into relationships that are worth it. 

To my parents and brother, words can’t express how lucky I am to have your constant support behind everything I do. You guys are my rocks, and I’m not quite sure how I’m supposed to move away in the fall. No matter where I go, I hope to make you proud every day.

To my lifelong friends, Diya Karthick and April Zhang. You have stuck by my side since elementary school, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You bring out the best in me, and I know that I can turn to you no matter the situation. I still can’t believe we’re all heading to the Midwest in the fall. 

Thank you to everyone else who has supported me throughout high school in any way; I wouldn’t be the person I am without you all.  

It’s scary how quickly the days blend into one when you aren’t paying attention. One moment, you’re a freshman, absolutely terrified by the fact that you were placed into a journalism class. Before you know it, you’re on the brink of graduation, ready to continue journalism in college, and so thankful that your younger self didn’t give up at the first sight of discomfort. It’s a weird mix of feelings as I get ready to leave WHS.

But I’m so excited to be continuing my education at The Ohio State University in the fall for Marketing and Journalism on the pre-law track. Go Buckeyes!

For the last time, this is Sahana Karthik signing off from The Lobby Observer.