I graduated from high school on May 21, 2016. I did not fully know I was leaving the place I called home for the past four years until a girl sitting next to me said, “If you really think about it, this is the last time we will all be gathered together in one place.”

When I heard that, I was in a state of shock. The rest of the ceremony seemed to be a blur as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma, heard my family and friends cheering their heads off, shook my principal's hand, and slowly walked backed to my seat trying hard not to trip in my high heels. YIKES!

I was then thrown into a weekend of partying and celebrating with the people I cared about most and the people who have supported me my whole life. It was not until the Sunday night after graduation in my bed that I was actually able to reflect over the place I spent my last four years.

My high school is not your typical high school. It is very different. The school is a special place that became my second home and I know the school will continue to be a home for me in the upcoming years as I venture onto knowing myself further. The community that centers this place was really where I grew to love it. There was no division among the classes, and no cliques that ruled the school. Rather, there was an inclusive community that thrived off of one another and wanted each individual to aspire to be the best person they could be. The people, both students and faculty, quickly became my family and the friendships I made helped me to grow into the person I am today.

How is graduating a wake-up call? It allows me to appreciate how one place in my life and the people there got me to where I am today. It also allows me not to take for granted what I do have because before I knew it, I was being swept away from a comfort I never really knew I had until now. Words cannot explain how much I will miss this home. I am going to miss Mr. C’s office, where I spent every school day the past four years laughing with friends. I am going to miss the hot hallways and classrooms with no air conditioning and the aroma of sweat because of the heat. I am going to miss Ugly Christmas Sweater Day the week before Christmas Break. I am going to miss cheering on my fellow classmates no matter if it be in the classroom, the athletic field, or the theater. I am going to miss the teachers who became more like older cooler friends to me than my actual educators.

I have regrets too. I regret not pushing myself to the potential I knew I had and taking on challenges I knew I could conquer. I regret letting fear get in the way of so many opportunities. I regret not going to as many school-sponsored events as possible to support my school. I regret not getting to know my classmates and teachers as well as I should have. As cliché as it sounds, I regret not telling the boy I liked the past three years how I really feel because I let fear of rejection get in the way.

new place such as college. I am excited about new relationships and new places to explore. I will make this next place my home once again just for a different part of my life.