Reflecting on the past four years of high school isn’t something I do often. I’ve always been the type of person who looks to the future and keeps moving forward. But as I finally write my testimonial, I am staring at a blank page, understanding the impact high school has quietly made on me. 

Basketball has always been a huge part of my life, from AAU teams to church and town leagues. It’s a sport I’ve loved for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of the basketball program wasn’t even during high school. It was during halftime of a varsity game, when I was still a kid sprinting across the small gym, pretending I was the point guard. 

Fast forward to freshman year, I made varsity. It was a huge accomplishment I’ll never forget, but looking back on that season, it’s all a blur. The moments that resonate with me are the experiences I shared with the seniors—Tabi, Ro, and Taylor—who welcomed me like a younger brother. They didn’t have to take me under their wing, but they did. Looking back, that small act made a huge difference in how I carried myself for the next four years. 

The long practices that felt like forever, the inside jokes that got us through them, and the bus rides that were somehow always either too loud after a win or completely silent, created memories that we’ll never forget. I reminisce about the locker room talks, the chatting in between drills, the heartbreaks, and how my teammates always had my back throughout trials and tribulations. Always. The people I shared the court with turned into something more than a team, they became family. I’ll never forget the feeling of stepping onto the court on a Friday night and having a blast with the boys. Basketball taught me countless lessons about keeping your head up and moving on. Another lesson I learned is that heartbreaks happen, and the line always won’t be straight and perfect, but it’s the resilience learned from these lessons that shaped me.

Looking back on my high school journey, it’s funny how certain moments can shape your path in unexpected ways. Journalism wasn’t my first choice freshman year—in fact, I didn’t even select it in my course selection, but randomly being placed into it was a blessing in disguise. Thank you to Mrs. Stoker, who inspired me to keep going as a student journalist. Your unwavering support shaped me into the writer I am today. Shoutout to the FCP crew my Junior year, Simon, Nick, Max, and Aj, you guys were the reason I looked forward to Journalism every day. The notorious podcast of FCP was nothing short of legendary. It was a place where I was able to be my authentic self and talk about the sport I love.

All the laughter, and most importantly, the arguments, were something I will never forget. Some of my best moments throughout high school happened at Westborough TV, and I owe so much of that to Mrs. Henderson. You were the heart and soul of this podcast, always pushing us to produce our best work and ensuring we never lost sight of the value of good journalism. The endless laughs with the munchkins and the random Snapchat photos of my mom are memories I will treasure for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything. Ms. Conrad, you’ve truly shaped me into the writer I am today. You always brought out the best in me, consistently believing in my ability to meet deadlines and take on bigger roles in assignments. Your passion for journalism inspired me to push myself and strive to be a better journalist daily. Tim and Aidan, thank you for always stepping up to help with our editing. We truly would be nothing without you both. I know you had to put up with our shenanigans, and at times, the outlandish things some of the FCP members would say, but your dedication and commitment to giving us the best opportunity to publish our work means the world to me. 

Of course, this testimonial cannot go on without giving flowers to my senior year FCP crew, Jordan, Jared, Justin, Jack, and Brady (just realized how many J’s are). This crew made being the host of the show easy, being surrounded by so much talent, and being a magnetic presence. Being able to share the stage with the boys I’ve known since moving to Westborough has been a great ride, and I’ll never forget the moments of pure joy we shared throughout this past year. 

I’ll miss the random food trips and silly reviews (Thanks, Ms. Conrad), walking around the hallways trying to find people to interview for the newsreel, meeting new people in the school, and most importantly, forming connections and bonds with my classmates. These moments will never go unnoticed. 

I’ll be attending Fairfield University, studying Business this upcoming fall. For anyone who is considering taking journalism, do it. It was the best four years of my life, and the people you will meet will forever be people you remember. Thank you to all the people who helped me become the person I am today, and thank you to WHS for being a wonderful host. 

A quote I found myself repeating throughout high school was, “Slow motion is better than no motion.” Always keep moving forward, it doesn’t matter the speed, as long as you’re progressing. 

Best, 

Alec DesRosiers