Impact: a word that swarmed my mind and filled my stomach with anxiety. Make an impact, you’re in high school; your grades will have a huge impact on your future—fear consumed me everyday entering the doors of South. I was a timid, quiet, previously homeschooled kid entering what I thought was the most impactful years of my life. However, I shortly realized the meaning of impact. Impact was no longer an achievement but a feeling only some can leave you with. As I climbed each grade, the impact of each person in my life grew, the impact of love and the impact of my youth on my future self grew.

In this column, I would like to take a few words to address those who have had a significant impact on me.

Mr. Adams. You showed me passion and patience. You taught me how to relax and not be so anal about deadlines and small mistakes, for which I am forever grateful. You filled your classroom with joy and humor that I will never forget. I had the pleasure of being your student for three years and you slowly became no longer just a teacher to me but a large role model. I hope one day you become that pickleball champion you always wanted to be. You are the reason I’m majoring in science.

“Bday” is a seemingly lighthearted group chat name that got me through all my tough weeks here at GPS. Swarmed with homework, tests, and sports obligations, a simple notification talking about the weekend made the school days go by so much faster. So to my friends, I genuinely thank you all for showing me the bright sides of high school and giving me memories that I will never forget. I cannot wait to visit you all and for the reunions that are to come.

The Tower, a class I never thought I would want to take or enjoy, slowly became one of my favorite hours from the very first day I stepped into class. Thank you for teaching me to freely express myself, not restricting my creative side and showing me that ,although I am more logically minded, I can also have a creative side.

Lastly, to my family. Short but sweet, thank you for keeping me in check and understanding how to deal with my stress levels on the tough days but also reveling in my successes each time I grew as a person.

I cannot thank those around me more for teaching me the meaning of impact. As I leave the blue devils behind and become a Wisconsin badger, I hope to carry on the legacy and impact of those who have changed me. Forever a blue devil!