Bagpipe Goodbyes

Itell people all the time that I remember my first day of Freshman year. I walked into school with white jean shorts and a blue t-shirt. I sat down in Pre-AP Art I and thought to myself, “how am I supposed to draw a life-like portrait of a teacher? I can’t even draw a hand-turkey.”

In World Geography, Coach Thrasher threw his phone across the room to demonstrate that if he didn’t need his phone in class, neither did we. I knew not to pick up my phone in that class.

During lunch, I had a round cheese pizza and knew that I would be dreaming of off-campus senior-year lunch very quickly.

But when the first day of senior year came, it was a more worrisome compared to freshman year.

I shuffled into Pre-Cal with a Starbucks ice caramel latte in hand. I looked around at my classmates faces. One had grown a beard, another had deepening eyes, and another had highlighted her hair. All around me children’s faces turned into adults. And so did they.

Freshman year, our biggest problem was worrying about if we would pass our Biology test and what we would wear to homecoming.

Now, we’re plagued with worries of college applications, future plans, SAT and ACT, prom and saying goodbye to childhood friends at graduation.

But as I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my life, I feel nostalgic of the last four years.

Sophomore year, I turned 16 and got my license. In less then a month, I swiped the side of a car in the YMCA parking lot. Sorry Mom and Dad.

A few months later, my English Bulldog, Daisy joined our family. I remember being scared of her for months because she had the most deadly look. Trust me, if you saw her, you’d be scared too.

Then, in a blink of an eye, the world shut down. But I was surrounded by love from my friends, family, teachers and furry friends.

For months, I woke up, did whatever little bit of homework I had, went on a 3-mile walk, made myself lunch, went outside and tanned and then went on one more walk for the day before I watched an episode of Shameless in bed. It was pure monotony.

Then,junior year came, and I started the school year on a Google Meet in the basement of a house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was stressed about whether or not my wifi would go out during class.

Fishing became a stress reliever for me. I would pack my car with a pole, tackle box and mini hot dogs that I cut up to use as bait. I would call my friend, Ava Murphy, and tell her to meet me there.

One day, she told me we should join the bass team. I laughed at her. No way. But a month later I was signed up and taking my picture for the poster. I loved fishing, even on the days that we were being poured on by thunderstorms in the middle of the lake and when we caught nothing after being out for nine hours.

Along with joining new activities, I joined newspaper. Well, I thought I had signed up for yearbook, but I’m so glad I landed here. I came into the class not sure where it would take me and had no idea how far it would push me.

As a reporter, I had my one story to cover per week, and as someone who considers time management to be a strength, it was easy. Little did I know that becoming Web-Editor-inChief would be a huge, huge step up.

Newspaper felt like it was a parttime job at times with press-cycles stacking on each other, but it was worth every moment.

As the year closes, I can’t help but think about what my last four years here looked like but also wonder what the future holds.

In the fall, I will be attending Emory University and studying International Studies. I’m excited to embark on a new journey and make memories just like the ones I did in high school.