Dear TCA Class of 2017,
Going to school with a class of <50 kids had its positives and negatives. On one hand, high school was a little more personal and you got to know every single person in the class, sometimes more than you preferred. On the other hand, it meant news and gossip blazed through the halls in a half second and everyone knew everything about everybody.
Ah, high school. I don't miss it.
It's been nearly one and a half years since the final bell. We've long since outgrown our tiny corner of Brookhaven, Pennsylvania and now lead drastically different lives. I'm grateful for social media that sends me life updates and allows me to get in touch with you guys from time to time. In general, I'm constantly too wrapped up in my own life to consider what's going on in yours. Today, however, at the start of sophomore year, I do find myself thinking about each of you and the time we did together.
Those four years were a wild, long ride. For those of you who did the K-12 thing, it was even longer. We were packed into a small, peculiar-smelling oven of a building full of cockroaches and caffeine for nine months out of the year. We endured all-nighters, the occasional crazy teacher, hateful DBQ essays, endless outlines, bomb threats, and heart-pounding speeches all the way down to our final exam. Graduating from a school like The Christian Academy is an accomplishment for anyone, to say the least.
We were a band of oddities, too, that's for certain. I've never been part of a more diverse group of people and personalities in my life (I'm telling you, that building's odor is enough to make anyone wonky). Even though I wouldn't consider most of you as friends, I should think thirty-six months in the same building together merits you a slightly better title than "acquaintance". We spent enough time together to listen to each other's plans, dreams, and fears for the future.
I'm grateful for those of you whom I still see. This group had my back the entire time, through all of my numerous blonde moments, uncalled-for Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter references, and emotional break-downs. A special shout-out to you guys and your continual support in my adulting endeavors today. As for the rest of this class, I won't see many of you until the reunion, and some of you I will never see again. It's weird thinking about it, even now, but that's the way life flows.
The squad is still together and theatric as ever.Netanya Brittain
When I say that I hope all of you are happy, I don't say it dismissively. I sincerely hope that each and every one of you is living the life that gives you the most purpose and joy. I find myself wondering how many of you are already working for and achieving your dreams. I wonder if you've chosen to maintain your integrity, or if you've chosen to define yourself by the people you follow. Either way, I hope you realize—if you haven't already—that this life is far too short to spend it pretending to be or dreaming you're someone else. My wish for each of you guys is to go for what you want and put in the work to get it. We may have been a difficult, strong-minded class, but we were also a class that stood up for ourselves in high school and refused to settle for mediocre.
Ours was and is a group of very special people, and I cannot wait to see how we shape the world with our gifts and talents. Here's to us.
