Maybe most people around you hated high school. A lot of people probably did. But high school is really what you make it in my view, and I really made it pretty special. After a whole year of being in college and moving on from high school, I still miss it quite a bit. And I know I'm not the only one either.
When my friends and I attended this year's graduation to see our friends that were supposed to still be Juniors walk, we teared up. We talked about our memories, our friends, and the things we were involved in. We talked about how we'll practically be devastated when we will be gone from high school too long to not have any friends to visit because they themselves will be graduated. Here we were, singing the Alma Mater again, but this time as the title we officially have had for a year, "alumni." It still sounds weird to me, and it still doesn't feel like it fits. Of course, I love college. Of course I understand that we need to grow up and move on, and obviously, can't stay in high school forever.
And honestly, I'd never want to stay in high school forever. There were so many aspects of high school that were great, and so many aspects of it that were absolutely not so great. But overall, it was something that I will never forget.
I'm not sure if I agree with people that say, "high school will be the best four years of your life," because so many others say the exact same thing about college. But the friendships I formed and still hold on to will always stay with me. The organizations I was in shaped me in ways I could never imagine, and am sometimes still surprised when I realize, "I'm this way because of marching band or choir," or "I'm this way because of drama club." I still go see the band's performances and competitions, the choir concerts, and I still go see the musical. It was fantastic this year, and the whole time I wished I could be back on the stage with them once again.
But I'm also proud. Proud that legacies will live on that we have left. Proud that Seniors still get sentimental and realize that high school does go by fast, and you will miss it eventually. Proud of the growth that they have gone through from being a shy little freshman (Well, some of them) to a Senior who takes the most opportunities they can before they continue in college.
It is time for me to move forward. But I can not just leave my high school behind. I have visited many more times than I thought I would, and sometimes it still feels weird. I may be "that alumni" that comes back all the time because she's still stuck in high school, but in a way, I'm proud of that. I'm proud that I made a good experience out of a time that is quite challenging because you are just beginning to learn about yourself. I'm proud that I made a temporary home for myself that I can come back to just for a little while.
So, I say, it's okay to be stuck in high school. As long as you use the experiences you had to continue to grow, it is okay. I don't know how long I'll be stuck in high school. It could very well be for the rest of my life. Because I am a very proud Alumni, and I love my school. To the almost college sophomore who is stuck in high school, I'm stuck there too.
