If you told me four years ago that I’d miss this place, I probably would’ve laughed. Freshman year felt like survival mode figuring out where to sit, how to not look lost in the hallways, and pretending I wasn’t nervous before every class. Back then, high school felt huge and overwhelming. Now, it feels like a second home I’m about to leave behind.
It’s wild how fast everything changes. One day you’re stressing over your first presentation, and the next you’re walking through the halls thinking, “This might be the last time I do this.” The people I was once too shy to talk to became some of the most important ones in my life. The teachers I thought were intimidating turned out to be the ones who believed in me the most.
There were high school football games, late-night drives, inside jokes in class—and there were lows, too. Days that felt too heavy, moments I wanted to fast-forward through. But somehow, even the hard parts matter now. They taught me how to keep going, how to ask for help, and how to show up even when I didn’t have it all together.
High school isn’t just about grades and tests it’s about the small moments that sneak up on you. The last time you walk out of a classroom without realizing it’s the last time. The hallway conversations that meant more than you thought. The friendships that grew when you weren’t even looking.
To anyone still in it: don’t rush it. Pay attention to the little things. Say thank you more. Be kind, everyone is carrying something, even if they hide it well. And don’t be afraid to be yourself, even when it feels awkward or different. That’s where the good stuff happens.
As I get ready to leave, I’m not just saying goodbye to a building, I’m saying goodbye to a version of myself that only exists here. And even though I’m ready for what’s next, part of me wishes I could hit pause just one more time.
So here’s to the memories, the lessons, the people, and the version of me that grew up in these halls.
Thanks for everything.
-Kole
