High School. For some, arguably the best four years of your life, whereas for others, high school just served as a holding pot keeping them from moving onto bigger and better things. One thing most people can agree on, is that the days we spent in high school were the simplest, most carefree times. For those that remember high school as the best days of their life, this one's for you.
To my teachers:
Thank you for preparing me for college while still giving me a considerably easy workload. Thank you for writing my college recommendations. Thank you for helping me choose the right college and eagerly awaiting my acceptance letters with me. Thank you for putting up with my inflated senioritis, and then for giving undeserved extra credit. Thank you for your wisdom and wit. Thank you for never shying of lending a helping hand. You've taught me life lessons, helped me find who I am, and shown me my strengths and weaknesses.
To my teammates and coaches:
There is nothing that can ever compare to how it felt to athletically compete at the high school level. Nothing compares to the Friday night lights, the bus rides to and from games, looking up at the stands hearing the town cheering, and the feeling of walking down the hallway on game day in your jersey. So many tears I cried over you; tears of joy when we came out on top in double OT, bittersweet tears on senior night when I realized my high school sports career had ended. Thank you for keeping me in shape, for pushing me to be my best. Thank you for instilling determination and passion, and teaching me the desire to set new goals and accomplish them. Thank you for giving me a second family, laughs at pasta parties and team slumbers, and letting me know that there was always someone who would always have my back. High school sports, you have made me the teammate, and person that I am today.
To my high school best friend:
Thank you for growing with me. Thank you for always driving me everywhere before I had my license. Thank you for keeping your promise about always being there for me. Thank you for being the first person in the stands at every one of my games. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to look back and remember some of the best memories of my life. Thank you for helping me cope with my first heartbreak, and showing me my self-worth. You pushed me to be my best when I was convinced I was at my worst, and saw so much in me that I never saw in myself. I owe so much of who I am to you and would never be where I am today without your loyalty, faith, love, and wisdom.
The nostalgia one feels when looking back at their high school career is uncanny. As much as we all dreaded waking up before the sunrise, you can't help but miss the little things.
The pure joy you felt when you got the call that you had a snow-day. The pride you had when your high school football team won the State Championship. How much excitement was behind the search for the perfect prom dress and how your only worry was getting caught with your phone out in the hallway. Before the bills, loans, the stress of finals week, and having to do your own laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Before going out on a school night was acceptable, before you actually needed the textbook. You were just a kid; a kid in high school.
So thank you to my high school. For all the dances, the pep rallies, the school chants, the inedible school lunches. Thank you for helping me get into my top school and for giving me a lifelong best friend. I'm sorry I took you for granted, and I know we can never be together again, but just know how grateful I am for your help in finding my passions and teaching me about life and myself. I did not always love your existence, but I needed it.
"High School is forever."
