It’s hard to put into words the feelings that come with graduation approaching soon. On one hand, four years of work and learning has prepared me for college and the next stage of my life where I’ll determine who I want to be and what I want to do. On the other hand, friends will be leaving all across the country and clubs and activities will soon go on without me. It’s hard to say what exactly that feeling is other than uncertainty.

There’s no doubt to me that high school changed me for the better in a lot of ways. In my freshman year, I prefered to stay quiet and reserved most of the time. Over time I grew to become a little more outgoing and more involved at the school. My biggest help along the way was my second family at school in Green Room and in the staff of this newspaper. I can’t thank either group enough for all that they taught me in various skills, especially in communication and the ability to speak my mind freely.

My friends have always supported me throughout high school, and I know I won’t be able to keep in touch with everyone of them, so this is goodbye to the people who I knew I could lean on in hard times and celebrate with in the best of times. I have so many great memories with some of my best friends, like learning Dungeons and Dragons because we’re all a bunch of nerds, the “best” student movie of all time in freshman year, almost assassinating our online editor with a bathroom pass, and of course meeting my amazing girlfriend Neilla Janssen. You guys have all made this high school the best place in the world for me.

To all my teachers throughout high school, thank you so much for all that you do for us students. I’ll still do my best to visit the school in the future, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to take any more classes with you. The variety of teaching at this school has made it such a wonderful learning experience and one that I will never forget. Thank you.

It’s been crazy and it’s been fun, but now it’s coming to a close. There’s still so much I could do here, so many columns I didn’t get to write, shows I won’t be able to help make, and games I won’t be able to play at Meeples for Peoples or Chess Club; however, I’ll leave that to next year’s classes. I did what I could while I was here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.