This is not how I pictured our senior year ending. Although I wish I weren't saying ending because I am trying to remain hopeful, the ongoing news continues to bring down my hope.
I thought we would have our formal last day. Have our senior circle, say goodbye, hug, take pictures, and tell everyone how much we would miss them. Now it seems as though that may not occur and it breaks my heart into a million pieces.
We still have so much left. For some of us, our last season of playing that beloved sport. Our last chance at playing on our home field while representing our school. For others, our last band concert and honor band activities. But for all of us, there is prom, senior award night, our official last day, graduation... all swept out from under us. Taken away with no warning and no way to prepare ourselves for the emotions that would come. We were supposed to post pictures of prom and graduation but now I find myself wondering if I will ever see some of you again.
Some of us were close while others of us would share a smile in the hallway or a quick "Hey!". I think that a lot of us spent this year wishing for it to go by quicker because we were ready to graduate and move on. But now that everything has taken an abrupt pause and life has changed, we realize that we have been wishing for the wrong thing this whole time. Reflecting back, I think it's safe to say that we all wish we would have taken everyday for all it had to offer. Lived in the present and not focus so much on the future.
These past four years have held some of the best times with high highs but also some difficult times with low lows.
But this year was supposed to be OUR year.
Our year to finally say we did it. We made it. Our year to take in all of the lasts that senior year would bring, make more memories than ever before, and care a little less while we lived a little more. We earned it.
It's hard for me to believe that March 13 may have very well been our last day of high school. Possibly the last time we would walk through the office late in the morning but try to sneak on through. The last time we would walk the halls of SPHS and pass our friends. The last time we would eat lunch in the cafeteria together or even hear our teachers wish us a good weekend. These among the million other little things that didn't seem like much then because we still had two months left of school, but now seem huge.
We were born in the midst of 9/11 and we are now entering into adulthood during a global pandemic.
To my classmates. My fellow seniors. The kids I have grown up with my whole life. I'm proud of us. Our small class of 107 has accomplished a lot during the past thirteen years. I believe that we have left our mark. I'll never forget you all. We grew up together. From small babes in kindergarten that were learning the alphabet up to our multiplication facts, to awkward middle schoolers trying to figure out who they were and who their true friends were, all the way to four years ago when we walked through the doors of the high school determined to make these last years the best they could be with the people we cared for most by our side.
A lot has happened. We have all grown up and for most of us, are still trying to find who we really are deep inside. I may not know why this all is happening or why it had to happen now, but I do know this much --- that each of us, each one of YOU, are good people and have the potential to do great things with your life. I will always remember you and will look back fondly on the memories I was lucky enough to have created with you all. I am excited to see what we all accomplish in the future.
Despite the chaos, if there are some things that I hope we have all learned from this unprecedented time it would be...
We're blessed.
Time is not guaranteed.
The little moments can be just as spectacular as the big moments.
Live in the present.
Make memories.
Don't worry so much about the things you can't change but instead focus on the things you can.
Everything will work out, you just need to trust that it will.
Lastly, despite whatever obstacles may rise in our paths, we have the power to overcome them and become stronger because of them.
I love you all and hope to see your faces one more time again very soon.
- A Pointer Forever
