Reflection
When I started high school in 2021, right out of quarantine, I had no real expectations for what my life would look like because I had no idea who I was or what I wanted. I thought I’d stay the same throughout these four years–with a strong belief system, sense of self and relationships I’d keep for a lifetime. But, after four years at RM, what I can say is that you will meet some of the best and worst people of your entire life during high school; they will either test you and break your character, or encourage you and help you rebuild. We’re all trying to figure out who we want to be, what we want to do and how to get to a future we’re truly happy with. The high-pressure environment of a magnet school can churn out some really amazing, intelligent people who I have no doubt will go on to do incredible things and impact others positively. At the same time, it doesn’t allow for much time to self-reflect and evolve, unless you make that time yourself.
My advice to anyone coming to RM would be to take a step back every once in a while, especially when dealing with difficult situations, and evaluate who you’re acting like versus who you aspire to be. Self-awareness is a hard, grueling trait to achieve, but it’s one that will help you avoid so many unnecessary conflicts and ensure that the people you meet are left with a good feeling about you when you eventually part ways.
Voice
Through the work I’ve done on The Tide and beyond, the extensive interviews I conducted for my MYP project, and life in general, I’ve realized that at the end of the day, all any of us want is to be heard. Journalism provides us with a platform to do so. To me, journalism serves as a first draft of history–a tool to inform, expose corruption and give voice to the marginalized.
I never considered journalism as a true path for me until I joined The Tide. The newspaper fostered my love for photography, as I learned over time how to capture a moment at its peak. Writing isn’t my strongest suit, so my favorite thing about photography is being able to convey an emotion, idea or story through a single shot.
As photo editor for the past two years, I’ve been happy to learn and then teach others how to write photo essays. This year especially, I haven’t been able to be as involved as I wanted because I had so much other work to focus on, but I still found time to teach some of my contributors how to put together compelling photo essays, and I think that was something to be proud of.
Understanding
The main lesson I’ve learned through my high school experiences has been to love in spite of fear. There are so many things and people in this world that are worth loving, and just as many that can get in the way of that, but know that there is always a way.
Most importantly, understand that you and those around you are still learning. There is always room for growth in everyone and everything, and we all develop skills and mindsets at different rates. That doesn’t mean you have to forgive everyone who does you wrong just because “they’re still growing,” but it does mean seeking to understand where they’re coming from–because someday, you’ll need that same grace extended to you.
Bonds
As I prepare to leave the people I’ve grown up with, I can’t help but reflect on the complexity of maintaining love and relationships. I wish I’d realized sooner that the obstacles we face are surmountable if the foundation of our bond is strong enough. I want to thank my best friends for sitting with me even when the days (and nights) got long, and for reminding me of who I want to be.
When I look back on my time with my high school friends, I won’t just see a collection of memories; I’ll see a quilted blanket of the moments that shaped us–each square bound not only by our shared successes and laughter, but also by the challenges we overcame. Though I ache at the thought of letting go, I’m excited for the new paths we’ll take.
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.
