My first taste of high school came a little earlier than freshman year. I was taking classes as a shy eighth-grader at this brand new, big high school. At the time, I was intimidated by all of the older, high schoolers. It is weird to think it has already been five years since I was sitting in Mrs. Roebuck’s honors geometry class.

Freshman year was exciting, meeting new people and joining new activities. A few weeks before school started, I was on a bike ride with Keely Messacar to the kick-off Student Association meeting. We also attended many fix-it-freshmen float parties, went to football games and helped in the preparations of the homecoming dance. As the year progressed, we tried out many of the clubs South had to offer, one of my favorites being Mock Trial, which my brother, a senior at the time, introduced me to. Looking back, I am thankful Evan and I was able to have that time together, while I was a freshman and he was a senior and am so excited to be joining him in college for one year as well. The end of freshman year came quickly, but I knew I still had three more to go.

Sophomore year was so much fun. I got my license in October and would drive my friends around every day. I strengthened friendships, while also finding great study habits in school and learning lot in classes. I started my second year of tennis and loved every minute of it. The matches were something I looked forward to after school every day. At the end of sophomore year, a friend in Tower recruited Keely and me to go to a new club meeting. Little did I know the meeting with 10 other students and Mr. Booth would soon turn into Devil’s Den. The year came to an end, and I knew I still had two more whole years, not realizing I was already halfway done.

Junior year started and I suddenly became so busy without a minute to spare in my schedule. I had meetings at 7 a.m. every morning, swim meets twice a week, practice after school and attended sporting events for Devil’s Den. In the evening, I got home, ate dinner and started homework at 9 p.m. all well keeping up with 3 AP classes and somehow trying to get more than 5 hours of sleep each night. The fall was stressful, but so much fun with the success of Devil’s Den, bringing back the spirit and joy for football games and other sporting events. Everything slowed down junior year when we were let out of school on March 12. It felt like school had ended for the year and we got an extra-long summer, and I did not realize I only had one year left.

Senior year has gone by in the blink of an eye. Although this was not a traditional senior year, it was one that I wouldn’t change for the world. Throughout the fall, Keely came to my house every day and we zoomed classes together. We planned a fake hoco for our friends, started a business and we even went on a ski trip to Utah together, all while doing online school. I cherish the memories from this year with all of my best friends. The few months of in-person school have gone by so fast. It is crazy to think it was nine months ago that my senior year started, and now high school is coming to a close. I wouldn’t change anything about my high school experience. I am grateful for every moment and grateful to my parents for supporting me through everything. Leaving South and the community I have grown up in will be sad and emotional, but at the same time, a bittersweet goodbye as I have such an exciting future to look forward to.