While I'm super excited to go off to college to try new things and meet new people, I can't help but think about everything that I'm going to miss about high school. I was very lucky to have such a positive experience at high school, as many people struggle to fit in and feel comfortable. I had an incredible time, and made many great friends that I hope will stay in my life forever. These are some things only people who come from Barrington High School will understand and miss when they go off to college.
1. Knowing Everyone In Your Grade And A Lot Of Kids From Other Grades
Coming from a small high school, and an especially small graduating class, I knew the name of everyone in my class. It was comforting just seeing familiar faces in the hallway even if I wasn't friends with those people. I also knew many underclassmen thanks to extracurriculars and having a younger brother.
2. Knowing All The Teachers And The Teachers Knowing You
I obviously didn't have every teacher in the school and didn't know them all personally, but I was able to recognize them, and they recognized me and would smile, even if they had never had me as a student before. The teachers that I did have were always really kind, and were always there if I needed help or advice.
3. Friday Night Football Games
Even though our football team was not the greatest, it was always fun getting together with everyone in our tiny, grass field stadium, also known as "Victory Field." Kind of ironic if you ask me.
4. Crazy Librarians
Even though everyone hated the librarians, you can't help but think about all the times they were so ridiculous you just had to laugh, and all the times you messed with them just to annoy them back. You're going to miss getting yelled at for eating in the library all the time.
5. Homecoming
Homecoming was a pretty awesome time, from the skits and pep rally, to the football game and parade, to the dance the next day. After spirit week, homecoming is a great way to end the festivities. You're definitely going to miss the stadium lights going out, delaying the parade and game for about an hour and a half.
6. The Janitors
The janitors are the cutest people ever, and they had to put up with so much crap - literally. They dared to enter the horrifying bathrooms and clean them everyday. The smell in those bathrooms can't even be described. They also cleaned up random spills and messes in the hallways. One time I dropped a glass bottle that shattered in the hall, and the janitor came to the rescue in about a minute. The janitors are the real MVPs.
7. Prom
The prama is something you may or may not miss, but prom itself was always a good time and you're going to miss cramming all your friends into a creepy party bus, and dancing the night away. Afterprom is another awesome event that you're going to miss, but you know you'll have plenty more fun nights like that at college.
8. School Dances
After my freshman year, people stopped going to school dances for some reason. I always thought they were a blast, and the maybe 30 other people that went thought they were a good time also. No matter what theme student council picked to try to get people to show up, not many did.
9. Your Team
I am lucky enough to be joining another team next year at college, but my high school teammates can never be replaced. These people have been with me through it all, preseason, perimeters, wins, loses, team meetings in room 308, playoffs, and more. They have pushed me and challenged me to be my absolute best. These people helped shape who I am today. I know I will make new friends next year and new teammates, but my high school teammates will always have a place in my heart.
10. Unified Theater And Unified Sports
If you are not involved in a unified program, I highly suggest you do so. These unified actors and athletes have left a lasting impression on me, and I am extremely sad that I will not be able to do these activities next year. Unified has an atmosphere and feeling that is totally unique to anything I have done before. After every rehearsal or practice, I was filled with happiness, no matter what else had happened that day. These students are rarely sad or upset, and their joy is contagious. You brighten their day while they are brightening yours.
11. Gym Class
You are most likely never going to have to take a gym class again once you graduate from BHS, which is really exciting. However, you are going to miss the shenanigans that happen during gym, and the many different types of gym teachers. Some of those teachers are your favorite people ever because they're so laid back.
12. Sunrise
It was always nice coming to school everyday knowing that I'd have a few minutes to relax before class started. Sunrise also got you caught up on everything that happened the day before, or over the weekend. If you ever got to go on Sunrise to announce something, you felt famous because you knew almost everyone in the school was watching you.
13. BOTC
Battle of the classes is an awesome time every year (for the record, the seniors won this year). You always had to prepare for anything because you might be going home with pie all over your face, or ice cream all over your butt. Or maybe you wouldn't get picked for anything, which was even worse than wearing pie and ice cream. Like homecoming, BOTC was a great way to end the spring spirit week.
These are only a few things that I'm going to miss about high school, because, trust me, there are plenty more, but I know college will be just as great, and probably 10 times better.
