summer recap
Courtesy of Estelle Erwich
CAUSING CHANGE: Protesters fill the streets of Miami calling for change after the death of George Floyd.
Courtesy of Catherine Pasternac
SAFE CELEBRATIONS: Senior Catherine Pasternac waves at passing cars on her birthday drive-by celebration.
Courtesy of Sara Rabell
MASKED TRAVELS: Senior Sara Rabell and her family travel to North Carolina in the midst of the Coronavirus.
Alexandra Torres / highlights
SCHOOL SALES: The PTSA distributed and sold uniforms from Aug. 25 to 27 in front of the Le Jeune parking lot.
from the editors S
TUDENTS FRAMED IN LITTLE boxes stare out at the glow of the computer screen. It’s quiet — microphones are off and faces hold empty expressions as the mundane nature of our daily routines grows increasingly tiresome. This new classroom environment seems to be a stark contrast of the packed hallways, constant mindless chatter and bright smiles, no matter how little sleep we got the night before. Two years ago as I began my sophomore year of high school, I excitedly watched as my older sister embarked on all the adventures that senior year held. I patiently waited, managing to push through the intense workload that junior year brought, hoping that soon it would be me donning my senior crown on the first day of school and me publishing my final issues of highlights.
The time has come, however, and the hope and excitement that once filled me, motivating me to continue working, has quickly dissipated. A senior year filled with pep rallies, treat days and countless other activities that I jealously watched my sister participate in now seems nearly impossible. As I expressed these sentiments to my friends, I was told to not have such a pessimistic outlook on life and have a little hope. Although I view myself as more of a realist than a pessimist, I begrudgingly took their advice and attempted to not look so far ahead in the future. Despite the chances of a “normal” senior year being slim, the reality is that just as quickly as our lives changed for the worse, they can also change for the better. As much as my perfectionism and disdain for change make me want to know the outcome of everything before it occurs, I
think I, like a lot of us, need to learn that no amount of meticulous planning can account for the unexpected changes that life brings. Although I can’t sit here and pretend that the past few months have not been physically and mentally challenging and that I am not upset over having to start off my senior year at my cluttered desk with my microphone off, I can change the way I look at the next few months, no matter how different it may be. 2020 may have started off on the wrong foot, but for now, all I can do is put on a smile and hope that soon, I’ll be walking across a stage in my cap and gown.
Sincerely, Alexandra Torres, Editor-in-Chief pictures 3
