Senior year is approaching. We are all starting to look at colleges, and wonder what the next four or so years will hold for us. We are making plans to travel the world, go into the workforce, go into the military or further our education. But we cannot forget what made all of these things possible.

I wish I could tell you that high school has been amazing. But I can’t, because it hasn’t. High school has been a complete roller coaster. A never ending cycle of good days and bad days. The bad days, yeah, they suck. But I can honestly say that I wouldn't trade the good days for anything else in the world.

To those I have passed in the halls, but have never talked to: even though we have never spoken, you mean a lot to me. Leaving you behind when this is all over will hurt, too. Seeing you every day has brought me comfort, and security, knowing that I am surrounded by familiar faces.

To my best friends, to those who have stuck by my side all four years: thank you. I could not have made it this far without you. You have shaped me into the person I am and made me a better human being. I am now ready to face the world because of what you have given me throughout our time here.

High school is where I found myself. I found out who was really there for me, and who was only there when they needed something. I learned a lot during this time. Yes, we may all have times where we hated each other, and have gotten mad at each other, but the class of 2017 is something special, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We are a family.

When something bad happens to someone in our grade or someones family, we come together as one. We know how to be there for each other in times of need. We know that we can always come to each other, and that when the going gets tough, we are all we’ve got.

You can’t forget about school events either. Football games, man those football games. No one cheers on our team like Roxbury. The student section is amazing. I have never met a group of kids that are more supportive than my classmates. You are all amazing.

At one time, we were seventh graders skating around the ice skating rink on Friday nights, going to see movies for free on Tuesday and having endless amounts of birthday parties at pump it up. Now look at us. We're applying for colleges and getting jobs and living this life as an -- adult? So weird to say. But we have grown up together. We have become a huge group of brothers and sisters, and I have the best family there is.

Thank you to the class of 2017. Although it is not over yet, I can truly say that you have made my high school experiences ones I will never forget. I have full confidence that each and every one of us is going to do something great with our lives.

There is nothing like this family. At the end of the days when the sun sets, this is all we have. Brothers and sisters, crying and laughing together. I know that whenever I look to my left or right, I see familiar faces smiling back at me, and that is the greatest feeling in the world. We have been working in harmony for almost four years, now. The four years have gone fast, but I could not be any more proud.

Our time here at Roxbury may be slowly fading away, but our memories here never will. Thank you for believing. For caring and believing in not only me, but each other. So when the day comes that the sun sets on us, let it set while we are interlocked, hand in hand, together. Most importantly, remember that when that day comes…