As the holiday season starts, we're all looking forward to the semester's end. Personally, I'm looking forward to spending time with my high school friends, who I haven't actually spent time with since August because we all go to different schools all over New York State. Over Thanksgiving break, I saw my best friend for the first time in over 100 days, and we decided to take a trip down memory lane, and visit our high school. The feelings that I felt weren't exactly the ones I thought I would feel, cue: 10 Thoughts You Have Visiting High School As A College Student For the First Time.
1. Does anyone actually remember me?
This was probably my biggest question walking through the main doors. I didn't want to walk in to find out that teachers that I remember vividly and wanted to see didn't remember me at all. It was such a relief when my Spanish teacher heard my voice in the hallway and called out "Aamnita, is that you?"
2. Where did all these tiny children come from?
For some reason it feels like the freshman keep getting younger each year. When I was a sophomore they looked like eighth graders, and as a college freshman, they look like they should be in elementary school. It made me wonder what we look like to the college upperclassmen. Do they feel the same way about us?
3. Are any of my projects still here?
I took a lot of photography classes in high school, and I'm kind of notorious for leaving my prints in all the art rooms. My photography teacher had hung some photos in the hallways and Superintendent's office. I had also transferred a photo onto the wall in the art room. I left them there as a way to show I had been there. I laughed when the first roll of film I picked up had my name on it.
4. The school is so small.
After running around on a college campus, high school feels tiny. I used to complain about having to run across the school to get to my next class, but that doesn't compare to having to run across campus for the next lecture. I wish my classes were all in the same building again.
5. It's nice seeing the team again, I really missed them.
As the old Varsity Fencing Captain, I spent most of my winter with the team. And Fencing isn't exactly a sport that's common, so the captains had to teach the newer members how to fence. As a result, the team was more of a family than anything else. Any team is close to each other because that's just what happens when you spend three to four hours a day with the same people. Instead of the three to four hours, we spent more like five to six hours with each other. Fencers who've graduated over 10 years ago still come back and visit. Seeing them was like seeing my family again.
6. I wonder who has my locker now.
Whoever it is, I hope they take good care of it. Freshman year, my friends dared me to sit inside the locker and close the door. It turned into a tradition of sorts, we'd attempt to fit inside the lockers each year.
7. Where's my guidance counselor?
It was a reoccurring theme all throughout junior and senior year. Trying to find my counselor was like trying to find Waldo. He was never where he was supposed to be, but unlike Waldo, I'd find him just as I'd be about to give up. This time was no different.
8. Do I miss this place or the people that I was here with?
As I was walking through the halls, I began to think about the memories I had in that school. I realized that I don't miss high school itself, I miss the people I surrounded myself with, the friends that I'm now so far from. We made promises to keep in touch and FaceTime or Skype every week, but it's tough trying to coordinate a time when everyone is free.
9. These seniors look so stressed out. Was I that stressed out?
Senior year is a blur of sending out applications, waiting with responses, and working on the yearbook. Unlike most seniors, my first application deadline was October 15th, so all my essays and recommendations where done by then. Still, the waiting to hear back part was what stressed me out the most.
10. High school was great, but college is way better.
Through the whole four hours I was there, I kept comparing everything to college. I realized that I have changed in the few months since high school ended. I have grown as a person. I love my college, and am extremely happy with my decision. Part of that is because of how diverse the campus is. I've met people from different parts of the world, from many walks of life. College has broadened my horizons past the town that I grew up in.