Congratulations graduates! The moment we have all been counting down to has finally arrived. After four years of new experiences, interesting classes, and making new friends, I graduated from high school last Saturday. The graduation ceremony traditionally starts out with the high school orchestra playing as the parents and families filter into the auditorium. Because I was salutatorian, I was the first commencement speaker and the first to receive my diploma. I enjoyed standing at the podium on the huge stage and welcoming friends and family. I spoke to the class of 400 graduating seniors about pursuing their dreams and finding motivation to succeed. It was a memorable ceremony. Most graduates and their families stayed around and took pictures outside the venue because it was such a nice day.
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Yes! I’m finally done. My classes ended on Friday, but I don’t graduate until the end of June. The last two weeks of school — as I predicted — flew by. This month has been a time of so many “lasts”; it is definitely sad. I loved high school, but I know it is time to move on.
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Eight. Eight days left of school. I almost cannot believe it. The number rings in every senior’s ears just like the bells at the end of each class. Everybody always told me that senior year goes by quickly, but I didn’t realize how fast it would actually go. After just getting back from a Coldplay concert, I would say that it has flown by “at the speed of sound.”

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I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders: I finished my last test this afternoon. I’m so happy to be finished with all my testing this year. The end of testing means spending time outside in classes, playing Frisbee and Kan Jam (a game played with Frisbees and two cans). I’m really enjoying spending time with my friends and having fun in school. After a long four years filled with so much work, we finally can take a well-deserved break.

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Congrats seniors! If you’re a senior too, you probably have accepted a college’s offer of admission. Your four years of high school are coming to a close, and you are ready to begin your life as an adult. At least in theory anyway . . .

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It seems as though high school is coming to an end. However, my school doesn’t graduate until late June, so we have a while to go. This past month, I received a bunch of great news. I was accepted at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Brown, Cornell, and many other great schools.

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Whoever said that senior year was a breeze was seriously wrong. Over the past month, the work has been piling up, and the onset of “senioritis” has not helped. In most of my classes, we are starting to review for the advanced placement exams as well as working on final projects or papers. Also, most local scholarship applications are due at the end of the month, so it’s important to stay on top of all requirements and deadlines. The applications may seem like a lot of work — especially if you have to write an extra essay — but just imagine winning money, and how it will be so worth it in the end.

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March has come in like a lion. I’m surprised that it’s still so cold; I’m really looking forward to the snow melting and the flowers coming up.
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The past week has been surreal. I’m sure you heard about the plane crash in Buffalo, New York, on February 12th. Well, that plane crash happened about a mile from my house. I heard the sirens that night and smelled the burning fuel. Thankfully I don’t know anyone personally affected by the crash, but in my small community, everyone knows somebody who was. My dance teacher and a couple of friends were flying home from a competition in Ireland that day and were scheduled to be on that plane. Fortunately, their international flight landed early and they were able to change flights, so they arrived home earlier. I can’t believe all the strange occurrences. School was cancelled the next day so people could try to start the healing and cleanup process. The fire was contained that night, but all the rubble and destruction are still here. Roads are still blocked off.

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Midterms are over!! I am officially a second semester senior. January flew by. It feels like the months are passing like weeks. Before we seniors know it, we will have graduated and be taking out first steps onto college campuses. Now comes the waiting period…til April 1st. That’s when most colleges send out acceptances, rejections, or wait lists. I must admit, I’m getting very anxious and impatient waiting for those letters. I cannot wait to see where I’m accepted and to decide where I’m going to spend the next four years of my life.

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