At the point of graduation, I was ready to move on, do something new, and be around different people than the same old depressing cast of the last 12 years. There isn't a lot I miss about high school besides my teachers and the fun times we had. Other than that I was over worked, exhausted, bitter, and ready to bury myself in cement. It took me about six weeks into my freshmen year of college to realize I forgot to express my appreciation for another group of people in high school besides my teachers. As bizarre as it may be, the underclassmen might have saved my life.
In junior year, I became heavily involved in my school and joined the student government as a class officer. It did not take long before I was running around the building doing every little thing I can to help my teachers, advisers, and peers. I offered my help to everyone, even the other classes. As a senior I volunteered for the junior's fashion show in the middle of writing three essays for my AP classes, the sophomore's talent show when I was studying for two exams in between, and giving the freshmen some stability while I was trying to stabilize myself. All along with doing jobs for the executive board, the branch of student government that oversaw everything that was not getting done. When I was elected as one of my class' officers, my job on paper was to count money, keep receipts, and report it to the main office. Clearly, I was doing way more than that.
For a while I felt miserable. My class made me want to dive into a pool of hot oil, and I was questioning why I was still doing all this stuff. It wasn't for me and it wasn't for the class anymore. It became for my teachers and advisers, but especially for the classes behind me to make the school a better place for them.
I drifted away from hanging out with the people in my class to those in the other classes. Over there I felt more appreciated, welcomed, and able to completely express myself. My purpose was now to pass on to the other classes a school culture better then when I found it. It's strange to think that I felt more a part of the class 2018 than the class of 2016 I graduated with. It took me to about six weeks after school started when I realized not just how much I was missed at the school, but how much I miss the school I left behind.
I see on Snapchat every weekday all the friends I have still in the school while I'm by myself eating lunch working on an essay reminiscing how last year at this time I was a part of their picture. Being out of high school is tremendous and I couldn't be any happier, but being separated from the people who gave me reason to not join the other 95% of students as lazy and boring is something I didn't expect.
What anyone can take away from this is to look around and meet the people beyond your class. Especially in a smaller district, it's not easy liking the same people you're forced to see everyday for 12 or more years.
I know the school I left behind is doing great things, and they're going to accomplish something wonderful. But there is a part of me that wishes I could be with them this year like I was last year and before. This really goes out to the class of 2018, but to the entire school I left behind, I miss all of you and I can't wait to see the great things you all are going to do.
