High school has surely been something. These past four years have all taught me very valuable lessons, given me life-long friends, and made me into the person that I am today. I am so grateful for all of the people and opportunities that I have been blessed with these past four years, and I wouldn’t trade the experiences I have had for anything in the world. There are so many people I have to thank that, if I did, his article would be far too long. Today just feels like such a “finale” type of day. Today is my 18th birthday, my golden birthday, and my last day of high school. It all feels very overwhelming. I feel like crying and laughing and jumping for joy all at the same time and it is hard to get my thoughts together.

All I know for sure is that I have had the pleasure of interacting with and being a part of so many beautiful lives and I will always remember the warm faces that have accompanied me throughout my high school journey.

Thank you, Mr. Grostefon, for letting me write about topics that interest me and for encouraging me to be creative.

Thank you, Mrs. Burch, for letting me be a part of the Drama Club and being an incredible tutor and friend throughout.

Thank you, Mr. Hurst, who has helped me understand my full potential in the field of art.

Thank you, Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Mannering, Mr. Mannering, Mrs. Schweitzer, Mrs. Dockery, Mrs. Karmel, and Mr. Carlton for being fantastic teachers and mentors to me for so very long.

To the graduating senior class, thank you for accepting me into your ranks with open arms back in 5th grade.

To the underclassmen below me, I hope I have been a good role model for you all to look up to.

To the administrators, thank you for providing me with a pleasant, albeit occasionally frustrating, high school experience.

Thank you to the custodians and folks who maintain the building for all of us horrible, destructive students.

I simply cannot believe that this is my last day of high school, but I am so thankful that I was here, at Lewis Cass, for the entirety of it. I am going to miss this place, but the opportunities that this simple building and the people within it have given me have sewn a path for me that I am so very excited to walk down post-graduation. Thank you for everything. 🙂