High school has been a roller coaster. Yes, it’s a cliche, but what can I say? It’s true. I’ve gone from one dream for my future to another, one best friend to another, and I’ve grown from one awkward girl to one (slightly) less awkward girl.

The highs and lows of my high school experience will stick with me forever. Although thinking about the lows will always make me sad, I will never block them out. If it weren’t for the bad times, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

I joined newspaper my junior year. Why? Because along with hearing my photojournalism teacher urging me to join the staff, I was fighting with my best friend at the time. Our friendship was headed downhill and I feared it would never recover, so I decided it was time to take my own path. I would no longer choose classes solely because my friends were taking them but because they would help me out in the future.

It was a good decision on my part because in newspaper I found a whole new family.

I only knew an extremely small amount of people when I walked into G215 for newspaper the first day but that was OK. I had my closest friend with me to keep me calm, which was all that mattered in the moment. Seeing the teacher’s familiar face made things seem even less overwhelming.

That first year on staff, I stuck to what I knew. (That would be you, Vivica.) We were together every day, even the times when we were supposed to be sitting at different tables. (Sorry Boyle!) Every one of our stories or photo slideshows had our names at the top, side-by-side. Just like we were. Yes, I talked to other people in newspaper, but none seemed to stick with me as long as you did.

When the editor forms for the next year’s staff came out, I immediately grabbed one. I knew that newspaper was my thing, and I was going to stick to my path, even if I was still uncomfortable around the rest of the staff. And guess what? I got the editor position I wanted, and it changed everything.

Introducing myself as an editor was surreal, and I remember worrying that the people looking at me from the back of the classroom would dislike me. But, as time went on, I got to know them and they became my family.

These people changed my life. They made me laugh so much that my jaw hurt, they brought me out of my shell, and they made me smile when I just wanted to cry. The outgoing personalities that have surrounded me all year have made me more confident in myself and excited to come to school.

I look forward to third period every day because I get to see my closest friends all in one classroom. I’ve never been so excited to go to class before. I don’t know how it’s going to be when I will no longer have third period newspaper to look forward to. I’ll miss everyone so much, but I’ll never forget my newspaper family.

It has been an honor to get to know all of you. Good luck, and I love you. Thank you for being my new-found family.