Two thousand, six hundred and eighteen days. Two thousand, six hundred and eighteen different memories made in buildings I will most likely never come back to. All those days spent coloring and watching the “Magic School Bus” seemed so minuscule in the moment, but now these are memories I wish I could go back to.

Senior year came by faster than expected and now that it’s coming to an end I am just as clueless as I was in the beginning. All I know is that the train ride to this station of my life has been anything but smooth. The major obstacles I’ve faced have been just as important as the good memories I have created. The challenges I’ve encountered have shaped me into the person I am today and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

I want to thank everyone who has had some sort of impact on my life, good and bad. My family, teachers, friends, people who I dislike very much and everyone I have ever had an embarrassing crush on, thanks for helping me grow and realize how unexpected life can be. You all have helped me take steps in finding who I am and I am forever grateful for those who have stuck by me through thick and thin.

Thank you to the tall guy who always makes me feel good about myself. I’ve known you for most of my life and every moment has been such a joy. We’ve gone through every situation imaginable together and our bond has just grown from it. You and your book are going to go far. I can’t wait to see you doing what you love.

Thank you to the tiny girl with the big voice. Your sass never fails to entertain and I will undoubtedly miss the fact that we can laugh about anything. Your loyalty is something I know will always be there, even when we don’t see each other every day. Get ready to have get-togethers with the gang at Buc-ee’s.

Thank you to the girl with the dolphin laugh who keeps me grounded. You have been so amazing to me and I can’t express how much I appreciate you. You helped me see my true worth and always made sure my life was as great as it could possibly be. I know our friendship will last until we’re old and senile, and I can’t wait to get into more wild adventures with you.

Thank you to my favorite artichoke. Our inside jokes are so stupid that we’re the only people who think they are actually funny, but everyone else is just missing out. I’ll miss all of your awkward gestures and singing random noises with you. I can already picture what a successful photographer you will be in the near future.

Thank you to the girl who I met when she was bald. I am beyond glad we have become such close friends and I love the fact that our conversations can be about everything and nothing. Being manager of the best group of rugby players with you has been such a blast. We’re always there for each other and I can’t wait to see what college has in store for us.

Thank you to the girl who I lived around the corner from my whole life but only just now met. Our adventures to H-Mart and Cheesecake Factory will forever be some of my favorite memories. You’ve always been so good to me and defended me when I couldn’t. Although many of your best buds are leaving, I wish you the absolute best in the years to come.

Thank you to the person who I love, you are more than just a freshman year crush. You have helped me in more ways than one and I will always love you. We’ve caused each other so much pain, but we somehow always come back to each other. Now that high school is ending I’m not sure what will happen, but I hope you get everything you deserve in life.

Thank you to my family who has been more than I could have hoped for. You all have supported everything I do and I am truly grateful to have such loving people in my life. Making you proud of my accomplishments is a life goal I’m ready to take on.

Thank you to all the friends I still talk to and those I have left behind. You all have helped me become the best version of myself and made me feel like I matter. I truly have been blessed to have all of you in my life.

Thank you to everyone who has given me a reason to subtweet. Your idiotic actions and name calling have given me reasons to prosper and prove you wrong. I can’t wait to get away from all the ignorant people who thought they were better than everyone and rid every speck of you from my life.

From trying to stay sane through personal problems no one knew about to dealing with foolish teenage drama, I have learned one thing. Life doesn’t stop just because something happens to you. The earth won’t pause its orbit just because you feel like you are drowning in your bottomless pool of problems.

No one controls how you deal with situations but you, and no matter what happens life will still go on until the sun envelops our solar system.

The transition between being a shy elementary school child with limited friends to the sociable young adult I am now has been the ride of a lifetime. A ride I wouldn’t alter if I could.

Freshman year I had no clue what I was doing. I dressed in bright colors and had an annoyingly conceited personality which makes me question how I had any friends. That year I was number 24 in my class, but my grades went downhill from there and now I’m laughing for letting myself slip.

Sophomore year I became a clarinet section leader which is almost unheard of. Somehow the stars aligned themselves perfectly for me. This was the year my group of friends began to fall apart, but in the end I ended up with the best people.

Junior year I was a walking corpse. When people tell you junior year is the most difficult year, believe them. Not counting academics, this was one of the best years socially. I was finally starting to become the Michelle I know and love while having a blast with my friends. I even scored a free trip to Orlando with the band after getting the worst results of my life which compensated me in a great way.

Senior year is made up of the many tears that were shed between the whole senior class and I. Last football game, last marching band competition and last Friday hangouts with my buddies. This year marks the end of an era and the beginning of the rest of my life. A life I am not ready for but one I will face head on. Everything I’ve ever done for this moment is finally showing results.

After four years I’m ready to get away from everyone and become a college student, but at the same time I want to stay a bit longer. Senioritis has been kicking in since sophomore year and I am in the biggest rush to leave all this tedious work behind, but I still want to make more memories with my favorite people.

Everything just feels so bittersweet.

Graduation is around the corner and the journey there is becoming shorter as we speak. In a few weeks I will no longer be a high school senior, but a part of the ever growing maroon line, singing the school song one final time with people I will never see again.

There are not enough words in the English language to describe how I have felt throughout these four years of misery and marvel. Estas memorias nunca se escaparán de mi mente.

Goodbye high school and hello to the rest of my life.