I remember my first day of high school like it was yesterday. My brother was a junior and we were driving to school when he played “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt. I was confused why he would play this song because every time I drove with him it was always Kanye or Lil Yachty. 

I sang along to the song anyway, and halfway through the song, he turned to me and said “no matter what happens, you’re beautiful.” 

I was confused when he said it because it was so random, but the more I thought about it, the more reassured I was that everything was going to be okay. I am sure he doesn’t even remember that day, but I never forgot it.

I was privileged to go to school with my brother because I knew that no matter what, I had someone to rely on. Even if I didn’t want to go to him for something, I often turned to his girlfriend or best friends because they were like older siblings to me.  

Looking back on all of this now, I’ve realized how lucky I have been to attend La Salle. Even though there were hard times that came along, I was given the opportunity to grow up and find myself in a welcoming community. 

I don’t think that high school is an easy time of life. As teenagers, we are treated like children with adult responsibilities. We are given expectations and rules to follow constantly. 

We are “too young” to know what love is, but we are expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. 

I can’t count the number of times someone has told me that high school was going to be the best four years of my life. I think that is a very sad way to look at life. I am only 17, so how can the best times of my entire life almost be over?

Throughout the past four years, I have learned valuable lessons that I wish I knew when I was just starting high school. Most revolve around friendships and relationships within the school. 

I think the most important part of building relationships is not feeling pressured to be friends with certain people. You shouldn’t be afraid to reach out and get to know your classmates, but you also don’t have to be friends with everyone. Just because your friend is friends with someone doesn’t mean you have to be. Find the people who support you, trust you, and stand by your side. 

I went into high school with my two childhood best friends and I can gladly say that I will be leaving with them too. During my freshman year, I also had four classes with a girl I knew from the volleyball program, so we decided to be partners in projects throughout the year. Fast forward three and a half years and she and her twin sister are now my closest friends. 

My time at La Salle has taught me the importance of reaching out to those around you. I never realized how much people can relate to the struggles you face until I sought out advice and help from others. Everyone has their own stories, and when you take the time to truly know someone, you are opening yourself up to new perspectives and outlooks. 

I also learned that teachers at La Salle are there to help. I spent my first two years of high school too embarrassed and scared to ask questions in class or go seek help after class. It wasn’t until my junior year that I actually started reaching out to teachers and looking for advice and building relationships with them.

My English teacher, Mr. Gregory Larson, was the first person I told about my dreams to move away for college and how I wish to live on a different continent. I hadn’t even told my parents and only joked about it with my friends. 

It is so important to know that the teachers care about you and that it is normal to ask questions when you don’t understand instructions. It is better to clarify and be a little out of your comfort zone than rely on attempting to figure things out on your own. 

As for grades, PowerSchool was my worst nightmare. As a freshman, I was told the importance of having the notifications turned on. By my junior year, I had to delete it from my phone because of how toxic my relationship had become with the app. The worst part was that not only was I receiving notifications that my grade dropped, but my mom was getting the same information. She would immediately send me a screenshot and ask “What happened?” 

However, I learned over time that it was just a grade. I was so terrified that I was not going to get into college because I got a B in a class. Yes, I was one of those students. But, as time went on, I realized how miniscule that grade was. Colleges are not going to look at your sophomore Biology grade and deny you admission because of that. 

I have experienced some of the best and worst times of my life in high school, but I have risen above and survived. Football games and coffee dates after school will be memories I cherish and test grades and homework assignments will be things I forget. 

High school has been a time of self-growth and finding my independence. I still have no idea who I am or what I want my future to look like, but that is perfectly fine. I don’t have everything figured out, but that’s what I have the rest of my life for. La Salle will not be the best four years of my life, because I plan on having an amazing future full of happiness and self-discovery.

This school gave me everything I need to succeed and find myself, and in four short months, I will be on my own to do just that. I can’t wait for what the future holds after my time at La Salle ends.