On May 27th, I will officially be a high school graduate. You will probably find me fidgeting with the black cap that tightly hugs my forehead, or prancing around in heels to ensure that I will not stumble across stage when my name is called. I am anxiously anticipating this day, praying that I will not reenact the opening scene from The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
As I reflect on my high school experiences, I consider how far I have come. Transferring from a private academy an hour away, I was an incoming freshman who knew no one. I was a timid girl who sought acceptance and a sense of belongingness. I thought I was alone, and felt that everybody already had their own exclusive posses and cliques. However, I was wrong.
One of the smartest decisions I made was joining my high school tennis team freshman year. Through tennis, I developed life-long relationships with very special people. I became my coach’s favorite person to tease, and my teammates’ giddiest doubles partner. Although, outside of the tennis courts was where we all really bonded.
I will never forget the late nights of ping pong tournaments and manhunt, and the early mornings of boating and soaking up the sun. I will never forget how many popsicles you guys could eat in one sitting, or how many welts were left on each others’ backs after a game of sting pong. I will never forget how unique your tastes’ in music are, or how you guys can dance to any song without missing a single beat. Most importantly, I will never forget how hard you all made me laugh on a daily basis and how grateful I was to have met you.
As we embark on a new chapter of our lives, I look forward to surprising you guys when I visit. I look forward to tailgating and watching football games together. I look forward to grabbing lunch when we are all in town, and catching each other up with the latest stories. Above all else, I look forward to watching you succeed, and hearing about your achievements. Thank you for making high school a memorable four years, and thank you for being my favorite boys.
