As I was brainstorming ideas for this column, I’d been forced to reflect on my past four years at South, so instead of doing it myself I decided to reach out to those closest to me and see what they thought. It took some prodding, but the most common response I got was that I’ve become a more confident person. I agree with them, although I’m not entirely sure why.
The next thing I asked myself was how I’ve become more confident? What changed? After thinking about it for some time, I decided the answer is not much. I’ve looked pretty much the same, had (more or less) the same group of friends and participated in the same activities for all my time at South. I think this consistency is what gave me room for personal growth, and is something I have the staff of The Tower, my team, my family and my friends to thank for.
My start on Tower was different from most. I was pulled up from Honors Journalism in the middle of my sophomore year and thrown into the process without much time to settle in. I vividly remember the splitting headache I had after my first day as a part of The Tower staff. I was definitely not expecting the chaotic energy that can come with publishing a weekly newspaper.
Although everyone was very kind and helped me learn the ropes, I couldn’t shake this feeling of inadequacy; I felt two steps behind, as though everyone knew what they were doing except me.
However, as time went on, I became more comfortable in The Tower room; interviews started to scare me less, and I slowly started writing stories that were more out of my comfort zone.
One of my favorite things about The Tower is all the opportunities there are for student leadership, and they are always there for those who are willing to take advantage of them. Because of the doors that were open to me, I realized if I didn’t want to feel like I was two steps behind everyone else, I had to put the work in. So I did.
I decided that for my senior year on Tower, I wanted to be a part of its leadership team. As cheesy as it sounds, I never would have worked up the courage to apply if it weren’t for the support of my friends and family. By having them in my corner, I was able to do something that challenged me, but paid off.
Being a leader of The Tower Pulse has made me more sure of myself, but it isn’t the only activity that has helped me grow. I have been a South cheerleader for four years, consisting of eight total seasons.
At the start, I knew next to nothing about cheerleading, but I stuck it out, and because of that choice, I came to know some of the most amazing people. My teammates never failed to put a smile on my face every day, and after four amazing years with them, I’m positive that I would not be nearly as confident in myself without them.
This column would not be complete if I didn’t mention my family and friends. Without them by my side, I don’t think my highschool experience would have been what it was. I say that because it was not all sunshine and rainbows, it came with its fair share of hardships. But I can say with total certainty that being confident in my abilities and interests made it bearable, and maybe even a little fun.
With high school coming to an end, all the constants that have made me the person I am today will be changing. I could not be more excited to see what the future holds for me. To all my friends and family, if you’re reading this, I would like to thank you for always having my back, I know I didn’t always make it easy. Without you, I know I wouldn’t be prepared for the future that lies ahead, and all the changes that come with it.