Many seniors can’t wait to get away from high school. They can’t wait to have more freedom, have a chance at a new life, and most importantly: they can’t wait to grow up. This was me at first, until I stepped back to think about how much passion I truly had for my high school experience. During these four years of your life, it may get boring at times and stressful, but overall it took a lot to get you this far.

During my four years of high school, it took me until the last week of my senior year to realize that all of my excitement about graduating was coming to a halt. I was still eager, of course, but being eager and being excited are two different things. To see what lied in my future was a thrill to me, and I long to push forward and find out for myself as any other student would. It was time to move on. Though, I would never have become the person I became had it not been for the love and support of five different people.

1. Your parents/guardian(s)

Your parents probably spent a lot of money on you throughout these four years (if not your entire life, right?). If not parents, someone that really loved you and cared for you was there to encourage you all the way. You are alive because of these two people, whether they are your best friends or not, or whether you have just a mom or just a dad, you are here today because of them. Make sure they get the thanks that is most likely long overdue.

2. Your best friend(s)

If your best friend has been anything like mine, he/she has been your backbone. Even outside of school, he/she helps you through your personal problems and gives you sarcastic answers to serious questions when you don’t need it. You love them anyways, though. This person has encouraged you to do what is best for you as an overall person, whether or not it goes against their beliefs or it may be hard for them to decide, they look out for you. This person is the one that will continue to push you to do your best even through college.

3. Your teachers/principal

Good or bad, every teacher that you have ever had (believe it or not) has had some sort of impact on your life and who you are as a person. If they were a good teacher, those will be the first to come to mind. Some are just good at teaching, while others act more like a friend or even a counselor. These teachers have inspired you, and they have most likely tested you more than other students simply because they believe that you are capable of great things. As for the bad teachers, they have taught you how to figure out hard situations on your own. As there will always be people that you don’t get along with in every work place, these teachers have taught you how to work side by side and cope with techniques that differ from the ones you are used to. Having a wide range of understanding and thinking stems from having to figure things out on your own.

4. Your coaches/managers

Maybe they were hard on you; maybe they roughhoused you and yelled at you, or told you that you weren’t doing your job at times. Your coaches and managers, though, have often just tried to keep you on track. They push you beyond your limits to show you that you can kick major butt in your sport or job. They also did something that a lot of people don’t know how to do anymore: they gave you a chance. You may not realize it at first, but they are telling you to prove yourself. Not to them, but to yourself. If that isn’t a way to gain confidence in who you are as a person, I don’t know what is.

5. The people that have put you down

Now, hear me out. Those people that bullied you, tore you down, and hurt your feelings, those are the people that gave you the strength you have today. They broke your heart and poked at your sensitive feelings until you decided to build yourself up so those things couldn’t hurt you anymore. Life is stressful, and there will always be people that are mean and hurtful no matter where you are. It’s how you handle those kinds of people, though, that define who you are as a person. There is no need to physically thank these people, but as you walk by, just smile, and let them see how happy you have become despite the pain they may have once caused you.

So, to those people whom have guided me throughout my life, I want to thank you. Whether we keep in contact or not, you had an impact on me. All of my teachers throughout high school, some more than others, gave me advice and accepted my unique personality and brought out my strengths. My principals were the best I could've had. Both of them. Both inspiring, outstanding, understanding adults. Many times I was in the principal's office, it was just to chit chat. The friends I had, many of them that I do not talk to anymore, who let me be myself and who helped me throughout my years and experiences. My mom, for raising me and giving me a wonderful life. My coaches and managers, both for being hard on me and for giving me opportunities and trusting me with many things. For giving me jobs and for pushing me to challenge myself and even for giving me advice when I needed it. Also, thank you especially to those who doubted me. Who doubted my skills, said I wasn't good enough, pushed me down, said negative things about me, or told me what I wouldn't amount to for simply giving me a reason to prove you wrong. Because of you, I grew tough skin to heal my wounds that would always protect me for future instances. Because of you, I am much stronger, and I am exactly where I want to be in life.

Thank you.