When sitting down to write to my senior column, I was stuck. Not because my four years in high school were not memorable, but because a good chunk was taken away from us and I felt there was nothing to say.
Then I remembered the late nights of my junior year when I would be sobbing to my mom because life was just too stressful. Then I remembered all the friends I have lost connections with throughout high school. Then I also remembered staying up at crazy hours of the night writing three-page essays for AP Lang.
Despite what I just said, high school hasn’t been all that bad. For many seniors, we have had time to reflect, and as I approach the end of my high school career, I can’t help but reflect on the past four years and how they have changed me. While there are many things I wish I had done differently, there are also many things I have learned.
- Not all friends are forever
As many other seniors can say, there are friends that come and go throughout high school. I have personally experienced multiple falling outs of friends. A lot of these falling outs hurt me a lot, but now I know that these experiences are normal. I have learned to be emotionally strong in myself and to not let instances like these allow me to lose myself. Is it easier said than done? Yes! However, having this mindset in high school has allowed me to stay true to myself.
- Don’t stick with what you know
If I regret one thing in high school it would be not trying new things. I always would give the excuse that I cannot be good at something if I have never done it before. However, this slightly changed this year as I picked up on some new hobbies, but if I could go back and start all over again, I would venture out more try new things.
- Prioritize your mental health
Throughout my four years of high school, I always struggled with feeling stressed and having just an overwhelming amount of anxiety. I had trouble balancing school work, social life, and extracurricular activities. As someone who is afraid of failure, this was difficult for me. I was so focused on getting good grades and trying to please everyone around me that I was not taking care of myself above everything else. When looking back at that time now, I have learned that I do not need to please everyone if my own health is at stake.
As my high school days come to an end, I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my life in high school. I especially want to thank my parents and my sisters for being my biggest supporters. Even if I don’t remember half the things I learned in the actual classroom, at least I got some important lessons out of it.
Liliana signing out!
Hi! My name is Liliana Murillo, and I am a senior at OHS.This is my first year being a part of 42Fifty staff. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends, watch reality T.V, and go shopping. If I am not at school, you will see me working at Riverside Pizza and Pub in Oswego. I am beyond excited to be a Sports Editor for 42Fifty this year!
