These past four years have had so many ups and downs, yet it went by so much faster than I could have imagined. I still feel like I’m 15 years old with braces. People are not lying when they say that high school flies by.
My biggest takeaway from high school would definitely be that almost nothing will go to plan. While this can be hard to accept, it is truly not a bad thing. I would highly encourage underclassmen to not have too many expectations. While it is very important to have hopes and goals for yourself, too many expectations can give you a negative mindset. For example, friendships change a lot. I have naturally drifted from people but unexpectedly become close with others. Approximately half of your plans will actually work out but that is totally okay. Some of my best memories come from those unexpected, last minute plans, such as the car rides with my friends on random evenings where we would talk nonstop and blast our favorite songs.
Additionally, as a cheerleader for four years, I started my journey with so many expectations for the future. This included becoming varsity captain and getting to be in all the best stunts. My cheer journey ended up being very different from what I had anticipated. While it was hard to accept the fact that many of my expectations from freshman year were not fulfilled, I learned so many valuable life lessons through my time in cheer. From leadership to teamwork to discipline to pushing through challenges, I know that my experiences as an RM athlete will help me through the next chapter of my life.
High school is not an easy time for anyone. It is busy, stressful, and can be really draining. It is so important to take time for yourself and focus on things you love. It may feel like the end of the world when you fail a test or lose a game, but trust me, nothing is as serious as it may seem. Try your best to enjoy yourself during the short time you have here. Get involved with things you are passionate about and keep making memories.
I have grown a lot throughout my time at RM. It has pushed me to become a better person through the people I’ve met, the variety of classes I took, and my extracurriculars. I hope freshman me is proud! Bye RM!
If you would like to voice your opinion on an issue you feel is relevant to our community, please do so here. Anyone is able and welcome to submit a Letter to the Editor, regardless of journalistic experience or writing skills. Submissions may be published either online or in a print issue.
