Ending a Chapter: High School

Highschool. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Mean Girls? High School Musical? Clueless? (All great movies, by the way) Four years ago, even one year ago, I would have said that my high school experience was anything but a high school musical and it was more along the lines of a terrible place that shouldn’t even be legal. I used to hate high school and all I wanted to do was graduate. Just the stereotypes of high school- cliques, mean girls, jocks, nerds-
were cringe worthy. As I started my freshman year, my older brother who was then in his junior year of college, told me to enjoy every moment. He told me that he would switch places with me in a heartbeat as I laughed in disbelief. I always told myself that his wish would never become mine as I wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible. Graduation and college seemed a million years away, when really, they were right around the corner.

Fast forward to senior year. College applications. SATs. ACTs. Stress. Homework. Tests. Senior year started as a bittersweet time- bitter as we waited to hear back from colleges, and sweet as we were counting down the days until we graduated and could leave home. All of us wanted to leave home as we were ready for change, and ready to get away from our parents who would not stop pestering us about our daily activities. As we all started to hear back from colleges, it got even more exciting- more to anticipate, more planning for the future, and wondering what the future would hold.

Then it hit me. I had already decided where I am going to college, as most of my friends had, and I was sitting on the beach with my friend enjoying the view as we talked. I then realized that a year from then, all of us, all of my classmates and all of my friends would be in different places and we may or may not still be in contact. It hit me that I had only 3 months left of high school. It wasn’t just junior year ending, or the end of being the dreaded freshman, but it was the end of high school. I realized that sitting on that beach, I was truly happy with where I was in my life, but it would all soon change because college was right around the corner, waiting for me.

I have to leave my best friends, my family, my home, my room, and my dog. Everything will change. It’s not just the end of high school, but it’s the ending of a chapter, and a sad one I might add. I came to the conclusion that despite some bad times, I have had a wonderful high school experience, and the friends I have made and the people I have met will be carried in my memory as we all leave for college in different parts of the world. Not only my friends and I have made great memories, but also my parents and I have made amazing memories. I will miss those annoying daily questions (as of right now, I don’t think that I will, but I know that at some point, I will miss them) and coming home to my loving parents who always want the best for me.

I’ve noticed that my life in high school was indeed a high school musical. As I watched High School Musical 3 and the last episode of Hannah Montana, I realize that I am Miley Stewart (plot twist: I’m Hannah Montana) and Troy and Gabriella leaving everything behind, and I will really miss everything as this chapter ends. So far, at this point in my life, high school has been one of the best things that has happened to me, with God’s help of course. God has blessed me with so many amazing friends and so many amazing memories that I hope I will never forget.

Now I say that high school is not what people make it out to be. It’s not a terrible place where you have no friends. Sure, there are tests and quizzes and homework, but work and working is part of everyday life and it really just prepares you to work hard for college and for when you get a job. And sure there are some nasty people, but honestly, there are  mean people wherever you go, and you have to remember that there are going to be nice people everywhere you go too.

High school is a time to make memories, have fun, and remember every moment. When asked to think about highschool now, I think about making amazing memories and having a blast, and I don’t think of that one girl who didn’t want to hang out with me that one time. I am holding on to every last memory that I make, because I realize that time really does fly.  I am finally around that corner, with college waiting for me, and waiting for me to end my high school chapter and  start a whole new chapter filled with college memories. We are now bittersweet, in a manner that we are all sad to leave each other, but excited for those new experiences.

For the first time in forever, I finally understand. For the first time in forever, we can fix this hand in hand, we can head down this mountain together…. I finally understand what my brother was saying as I entered my freshman year of high school. What I said I would never wish or want, became my only wish: I want to go back and do it all over again.