Compared with everyone else, I wear my high school class shirts with pride, no matter where I go. I even go back to my high school to visit and check up on my favorite adults who are around at the time.
I went to an amazing high school called Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS). The mascot is a tomahawk, in honor of the Native Americans that used to live around the same area. Tomahawks pride ourselves on the athletics, academic reputation, and the fine arts department. ARHS is actually number 25 on the list of Massachusetts Best Public Schools this year!
They also do really well with special education students. I never once had a problem not getting accommodations with my individualized education plan (IEP) or had a bad time with the staff. Why I had a great time during my four years there was due to the help of some amazing people.
When entering Algonquin, I thought it was huge. I was scared that it was going to be like the movies. Orientation was an interesting experience as I met the other 364 students that I would eventually be graduating with. I made friends with some of them, and others were just my "study buddies" or acquaintences. My peer mentor was an amazing person. She was helpful and helped me until the end of my freshman year.
The first week of school, I quicky learned the "do's" and "don'ts of the school, like "don't clump into big groups" and "walk on the right side of the hallway." The transition from middle school "senior" to freshman at Algonquin was seamless. I came with three of my closest friends to high school and didn't have a huge problem finding friends. I joined clubs and had a great time.
Sophomore year was tough. I was taking courses that I didn't exactly love but still had a great time in. I was having a hard time fitting in with my chronic illness when they all started learning to drive and I didn't. Thank God my friends were very supportive, and still are to this day.
Junior year was tough but very rewarding. I met my mentor that year, and everything went uphill from there. Sure, the college applications were hard, but every high school junior is going to say that. My mentor made sure that his class was one of the most rewarding classes I took. I saw my self-confidence soar, and I learned to work hard in that class. I went to prom that year and felt amazing, though the venue and food weren't the greatest that a school district could get.
Senior year was amazing. I bought a yearbook, and per tradition, had everyone sign it. This includes the many that changed my life. I spent afternoons with my friends at the local frozen yogurt store or on campus grounds and saw how they and also the staff at Algonquin made my time there that much more memorable. On June 3, 2013, I officially was an Algonquin alumna.
