I Forgive Myself

lETTER FROM THE EDITOR

As I sit here to write this letter, I am overcome with emotion and gratitude. What a year and a half we have survived! To think that through all these trials, we have committed to our learning and our growth is something worth celebrating. This has been a challenging time for me. I learned that I thrive in social situations in a way that I never anticipated. I dealt with isolation and mourning. I lost relationships and familial ties. It has not been easy. However, I pulled from my students' dedication. I pulled from y o u r c o m m i t m E n t I saw how even on the days when you had the least m o t i v a t i o n , y o u c o m i t t e d to yourself and this school year. I know that sometimes that meant a dreadful Zoom class and staying up all night. Still, you endured. To know your commitment is to be motivated by it. So many of you went through the beginning of your high school career through Zoom. You missed out on celebrating signi cant accomplishments like prom or walking out of these high school doors for the last time, also walking through the doors for the rst. I know the disappointment is palpable. The world can never give you those moments back, but know you are resilient and you have survived. Trust that you will continue to succeed and surpass expectations not placed by others but of yourself. I hope you are hopeful and excited for the journey ahead. If you were to ask me how I felt a few months ago, this note would read di erently. However, after combing through all your work, I feel prepared for my own. And so, I thank you for showing up to the best of your abilities. Every assignment turned in is a testament to your own strength. Thank you for trying. Thank you again for showing up. Thank you for showing us that not even the world can stop you.

Enjoy some of your fellow students' work! I know I will continue to do so.

i FORGIVE MYSELF

by Athena Williams

I remember all the fun times we had together, but I also remember the time you betrayed me. At that time in my life, I was mad at you because you called yourself my best friend, but you left me for other friends. Then you started switching up. I didn’t even recognize you anymore. People change, but you changed into a whole di erent person I don’t even know. I should have been used to it because that wasn’t the rst time you switched me out for a new best friend, and every time you got hurt, you came back to me. You wanted me to be your best friend again. You said that you and I would be besties forever. I had to learn the hard way. You didn’t know who you were, and you probably didn’t want me to be your best friend. You were perhaps holding on to me. But I didn’t write this letter to complain about the past. I wrote this letter to tell you that I don’t want to hold on to these feelings of betrayal anymore, so I forgive you. I will never go back to being your best friend, but I do forgive you. There’s one thing I want you to know through all the times you did wrong me. It hurt. It was like my best friend was the one that put the knife through my back. I haven’t forgiven myself because you betrayed me more than ve times, but I kept being your best friend. I kept having your back. You got in trouble; I got in trouble. You were arguing with somebody. I was arguing with that person too. Anybody wanted to ght; I was there. But I realize I can’t put all the blame on you because I should have left you when you started switching up. I never forgave myself. So when I nish writing this letter, I want you to know that I excused myself and forgive you.