August of 2010. Long halls, tall people and 90-minute classes. First day of high school. Reminiscing, it’s hard to believe how different life was just four measly years ago. The hit movie “Inception” with Leonardo DiCaprio came out, “Baby” by Justin Bieber hit the charts in early 2010, Antoine Dodson’s hilarious interview went viral and Lebron James “took his talents” to Miami. We weren’t worried about what we were going to wear to prom, where we were going to school after we graduated or about passing since senioritis hadn’t taken over our lives yet. Life was simple. Lebron James still plays for Miami, Justin Bieber is criticized in the public eye for being a bad role model, mentioning “Antoine Dodson” draws confused looks and Leonardo still doesn’t have an Oscar.
Over the course of our four-year trek through Legacy High School, we’ve experienced “Gangnam Style”, Michael Jackson and Osama Bin Laden’s deaths, the BP oil spill and Casey Anthony’s trial. All these memorable events, yet the only thing I’ll remember 20 years from now is what I experienced in school. I’ll remember traveling to Indianapolis to perform at a national band concert festival. I’ll remember going to Disney World with my best friends. I’ll remember playing in the Alamodome, weekly games of volleyball and Saturday night Grand Theft Auto marathons. I won’t remember, however, any of my AP Human Geography tests, my second semester grade from Pre-AP Physics, or half of the labs from chemistry. High school isn’t just about grades, learning equations and following rules; it’s about growing socially, creating bonds and having the best times of our lives before we have to start growing up.
Adults often tell us that we shouldn’t be eager to grow up and I’m beginning to understand why. When we grow up, there aren’t weekly Friday night football games, school to occupy ourselves with for seven hours each day or teachers by our sides to help us. Instead, work replaces school, corporate meetings replace our beloved Friday night lights and stern, unforgiving bosses and CEOs replace our loving, caring teachers.
The real world seems scary, but I’m confident that I’ll make it, just like high school. I always talk about how excited I am to move on, to go to college and start my life, but the truth is I’m nervous. I’m nervous about moving on from the city I’ve come to love. I’m nervous about moving on from the people I’ve come to love. I’m nervous about moving on from the school I’ve come to love. With that being said, thank you Legacy for helping me grow out of my shell. Thank you Legacy for being my extended family. Thank you Legacy for the best four years of my life.
