How Did We Get So Old So Fast?

Today I drove the length of the Vo-Tech Road. I approached the endearing concrete jungle of Santa Fe High, bumped over speed humps I’ve never slowed down for and finally pulled into my supreme royalty status parking spot per usual. (One would think that I gained my parking spot through a meticulous popularity contest, but in all honesty, I just get to school so early for my AP Calculus class. Nerd, I know.)

I sat in my car for a few minutes listening to the last song on the latest mixtape my friends made me. Usually I would wait until I mustered up enough energy to walk to class, but today was a little different.

I was about to start my last real day of high school.

As I sat in my car, Fergalicious playing aimlessly in the background, I surveyed what lay before me: the steps that were set to my dance music video, the spot of my first “real” kiss, the football field where my friends and I discovered our love for pretending we knew the secret of why people liked football, the glass doors we trotted through year after year ready to tear the dance floor up at Homecoming, the sign that was hung up advertising the Demon Tattler, Gerber’s room during lunch when more often than not, a dance party was taking place.…

How had four years already passed when it seemed like just yesterday I was traumatized on Freshman Jumpstart Day because I didn’t think my 5-foot tall person would make it across campus?

During our last forensics class, Ms. Nugent said, “Today you are not who you really are.” It was a hard concept to understand: If I’m not who I am today, than who am I? I decided not to answer that question.

I am who I am today because of the triumphs, hardships, fights, and celebrations that I have experienced, many of which have taken place at Santa Fe High. Evidently, I will experience new things as I move on in a new chapter in my life, but I am so entirely grateful for what SFHS has already given me.

Though the downfalls of SFHS are often more publicized than its strengths, that in no way means that SFHS isn’t one of the strongest schools. Yes, navigating the complexity of a large school and dealing with the bureaucracy of education has been a struggle. But because of that our students have learned how to be more outspoken about their needs and to gain more perspective about how other people affect their education.

I love Santa Fe High. It’s a weird thing to say. Why would anyone love school? Sure the ridiculous amount of homework and frustrating logistical issues weren’t as hot as one would hope, but Santa Fe High has provided me with so many diverse outlets that I would have never been able to explore elsewhere. From creating an online newspaper to filming a music video to solving a crime, there has never been a dull moment.

In my opinion, it takes a special kind of person to succeed and grow at SFHS, one with passion, determination and empathy. With that in mind, I want to give some obligatory advice to the underclassmen, so bear with me:

1. Learn to trust your teachers. They really are there to help you grow.
2. Find a passion and help it guide you.
3. Be determined to walk across the stage at graduation and do everything you need to do to get you to that point.
4. Respect yourself and everyone around you.

I started off at Santa Fe High shaking with a mixture of fear and excitement as I glued myself to the side of my elementary-school friends. I was shy and afraid to speak.

If I’m being quite honest, not much has changed. I’m still 5-feet tall, I still shake with fear and excitement and I am still friends with so many people I went to elementary school with. But one thing has changed: I’ve found my voice and I owe it to all of the incredible teachers and people who have surrounded me throughout high school. I have met people who have taught me to be more open to being myself — to be more loving, compassionate and caring. I’ve met people who have helped to thicken my skin — to always keep smiling, to laugh people off, and to look the other way.

I promised that I wouldn’t make this a long thank-you letter but I can’t say goodbye and thank you without thanking my Demon Tattler family. The Demon Tattler, Gerber, my outstanding co-editors, along with the staff members both present and past, have been so instrumental in helping to cultivate my voice and my writing. I am so incredibly grateful.

The other day I was babysitting and right before the little girl went to sleep, she tried to guess my age. She guessed 6. I told her my actual age and she groggily pondered, “How did you get so old so fast?”

Sorry kid, I do not know.

Time passes in the blink of an eye. I would not be where I am today had I not had people who made me giggle every five minutes of every day and people who pushed me even when I was pushed against a wall. There are people whom I have known for so long as well as people whom I have just met this year who have taught me so much about loving and learning and, most importantly, laughing.

So, thank you. Thank you Santa Fe High. Thank you, you wonderful people.