To be completely honest, I did not like high school. The hallways always felt too crowded, the rules often felt pointless, and I found myself watching the clock instead of actually enjoying my classes. Beginning in my freshman year, I was badly bullied by a group of my classmates, which turned me into a student counting down the days to graduation, instead of prom or other fun school events.
Even though I hated a lot about this place, I can’t pretend I didn’t grow here. Over the years, I learned how to read people, how to spot genuine friends, and walk away from the ones who only came around when it benefited them. I learned that staying quiet and reserved isn’t a weakness, but instead a gift. I learned how to handle conflict, how to stand up for myself, and apologize when I was wrong.
I will not miss the homework, the people, or the events, but I will carry the social lessons I learned here- the ones that came from real experiences and not a textbook. High school was not the best time of my life, and I’m glad it’s over. But, I’m stronger, more sure of myself, and more confident which is something I am grateful for.
To Miss Conrad, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Junker, thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to continue with my journalism career. Journalism will forever be a part of me, and I thank you for making me grow to love it.
To my Dad and my sister Julia, thank you for supporting me and being my laughter at home. You are my biggest role models, and to grow up alongside such incredible people is a gift I will cherish forever. I am so blessed to have people who make saying goodbye next year so hard.
Finally, to my mom, I thank you for being my rock, my biggest motivation, and my best friend. I will miss our long talks and laughs, and I cannot express how grateful I am for your wise advice, and patience. Not sure what I’m gonna do next year, but I am so lucky to have you- even if it’s a phone call away.
The best piece of advice I can give is to prioritize quality over quantity. As clichè as it sounds, the difference between having many fake friends and a few real ones is so apparent. At the beginning of my high school career, having the most friends and the most invites was one of my biggest priorities. Over time, I learned that having a big group of friends with people you don’t actually like is draining. I’ve found my people this year, and although I don’t have a million friends, I have a few that are worth a million. I would not change that for anything.
For the last time ever, it’s Anna Goretti signing off for the Lobby-Observer.
