Most days, I realize I reflect on my old high school days similar to my father reminiscing on his collegiate career in baseball when we sit at the dinner table sometimes. Though I graduated high school more than a year ago (Class of 2015, where you at?!), I've come to grips that I really can't disassociate myself from my alma mater, The Ethel Walker School. Why do I resort back to this school all the time?
It's ridiculous. I remember when I so keen on leaving that school, ready to abandon the overly protective clutches of our house faculty and roam into the collegiate life, open to embracing any danger and spontaneity before me (which ultimately ended up sitting in my room and watching "Insecure" all day). Much to my dismay, college did not seem as much fun as high school, and I feel very embarrassed to say that. Most of the people I know prefer college because they hated high school with a vengeance, but I can't say I can relate. I loved my high school, and oddly enough, I actually appreciate it more now that I've abandoned it.
My run at my high school was probably the best experience I've had in my life so far. There are many reasons for this. One -- the curriculum. Not many people would say they liked the academics at their high school or any school for that matter. Honestly, my favorite period of the day was lunchtime (I'm such a cliché). But honestly, I've never appreciated being so academically challenged in my life. I appreciated the difficulty far after I graduated.
In my younger adolescent days, it frustrated me that I couldn't comprehend the curriculum as easily as my peers had. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one messing up (which I know now isn't true). Now that I'm older, I realize my teachers challenged me for a reason -- to prepare me for college and a career. When I first started college, I felt confident in my work, which was something I never felt before. I actually knew what I was doing. Writing a 7-paged paper was a breeze because I had endured the infamous history paper of junior year (staying up until 5 in the morning writing 16 pages is forever burned in my mind).
Two -- the food. Honestly, hating Abra's was one of the most celebrated pastimes at The Ethel Walker School (throwback to the infamous bread riot of 2011). I mean, seriously. Everyone complained about the food, thus explaining why we all resorted back to Diddle's to whenever the menu displeased us. When I think back, our dining experience was incredible. We definitely earned bragging rights with the spread of unique and diverse foods prepared to us by chefs who genuinely cared about our eating experience. I actually miss seeing their faces when I entered the cafeteria. The food at Abra's brought us closer together. Sitting around those circular tables created many friendships and bonds that I still miss to this day.
What I miss the most from my high school is the people. Transitioning from a very divided middle school, I felt embraced and free to grow into a better version of myself. I honestly couldn't have done it without the characters I met at Walker's. The sisterhood we shared was unique and deep, and I don't think I will find anything like it. It didn't matter which "group" you thought you belonged, people would openly welcome as a friend. Many of the people from Walker's I still speak to -- it doesn't matter if we were close or not. While most people I know are grateful they escaped the "clutches" of high school, I cherish every moment I spent at The Ethel Walker School.
