In middle school, I remember coming to Legacy and thinking that all who made it to high school were geniuses. My teachers would always say, “This won’t fly in high school,” with every missing assignment or talkative class. I thought my days of immaturity would instantly be alleviated with freshman year, so to say I was wildly wrong, is correct. 

Fortunately, high school movies were my biggest obsession. Since I was younger, I’ve always had really high expectations for high school because of the movies I would watch. So when I expected a flawless wardrobe like Cher Horowitz, I actually sported mismatching prints. 

Freshman year slapped the rose-colored glasses off my acne ridden face. Metaphorical slaps are not as bad as they seem, however. Sure, sometimes they sting, but a good slap can point you in the right direction. My most fortunate slap was my sophomore year when I was placed in Journalism I due to a scheduling error. The plan was to quit after the first semester, but I liked it. From obsessing over the most miniscule details from different fonts to the exact shade of Bronco red, in Legacy Student Media, I watched passion from my peers unmatched to any other I’ve seen at school. 

With this experience, I learned that obsession pays off. I am fortunate enough to be a part of the program in which obsession has earned us national recognition and a platform to make a change. I surely haven’t been the best staffer by a long shot, but the lessons I carry from every story can never compare to any other experience during my high school career.

While I haven’t broken out into a song and a choreographed dance number in the middle of the cafeteria, I would say high school has been better than any other movie could’ve prepared me for.