High school was certainly not the easiest time in my life. I was constantly having to deal with anxiety and overthinking, whether it was about grades, friendships, or wondering if I really did fit in here. I’ve also struggled greatly with ADHD. There were so many moments where I would be walking through the halls exhausted and just counting down the days until I graduated.

While high school was not perfect for me, it truly did help me grow into the person that I have become today. High school has taught me the importance of dedication and respect. It has taught me how to spot bad friends and how to find and cherish the real ones. 

One thing I will not miss about high school is the constant stress and pressure. I will not miss the multiple late nights I stayed up studying, the sleep deprivation I felt, and the constant anxiety while taking tests. 

Although all the actual school lessons are over, and I will probably forget a majority of them, I will never forget the important life lessons that I learned here. Those lessons will carry on throughout my college years and even further than that. I am beyond grateful for the people that have supported me along the way. 

To Ms. Conrad, Ms. Smith, and all the Westborough TV staff, thank you for all that you have taught me. Without you guys I would be nowhere near where I am today. All of you guys have helped me grow and have been there for me in various ways, whether it was just being someone I can talk to or someone to help me edit my articles. I would like to thank you for your tremendous support you’ve given me for the last three years.

To my mom and dad and the rest of my family, I want to thank you for always supporting me amidst my struggles through high school, especially during my junior year. No matter how bad my grades got, you guys always made sure I was doing okay and made sure that my mental health always came first which I will forever be thankful for. 

And finally, thank you to my journalism class. Coming into high school I was very doubtful about taking a journalism, as I was not always sure what was going on in the world around me and I was also pretty terrible at writing. I am forever thankful I made the decision to sign up for journalism. Journalism has given me some of my lifelong friends that I know I can always count on. Our class became a place where I could feel comfortable being myself, despite the stress of the schoolwork and deadlines. 

I also want to thank journalism for giving me my best friend Nora. So to Nora, thank you for everything that you have done for me in these last three years. I could not have gotten through high school without you. I am so proud of everything you have accomplished and it’s surreal to think that we will be so far away from each other next year. I love you so much and I am going to miss coming to this class with you everyday and having the best laughs. 

If I had one piece of advice to give to people, it is that high school goes by so fast. Make sure to enjoy every moment of it while you can because, even though there are so many stressful times, there are also so many good moments you don’t wanna miss out on just because you are stressed about the future. Everything will work out. Live in the moment.

For the final time, this has been Samantha Cohlhepp, signing off from the Lobby Observer.