College: University of Missouri
Major: Political Science (Pre-Law)
When I reflect on my four years of high school, I am surprised by how much I have grown and evolved into the person I am today. At age 14, I was nowhere near being sure of myself, and my confidence was lackluster after a year and a half of virtual learning that resulted in enhanced social anxiety. The moment I stepped foot into KHS alongside my fellow freshmen, I was indeed thrown into the deep end of adolescence.
Throughout my time in high school, I have been involved in a multitude of activities from AP classes to volunteer work that have exposed me to a variety of people. Each experience and interaction I participated in taught me something I will carry into this next chapter of my life. The cruciality of dedication and time management, the value of feeling grateful for what you have versus dwelling on what you don’t and, of course, the ability to welcome the benefits of meeting new friends while also understanding the necessity of letting some of the old ones go. These are all lessons that took me years to fully appreciate; however, the most illuminating realization I’ve had did not come about until the conclusion of my time at KHS.
The invisible roadblock that had been holding me back from who I envisioned myself becoming was my lack of self-preservation. I had spent too much of my time being concerned about how to please other people and live up to their expectations that I lost sight of my own wellness and aspirations. I’m not saying I completely regret my actions–there’s significant value in empathy and being mindful of others. However, there comes a breaking point where it’s crucial to remember that this is your life and only you deserve the privilege to dictate it.
As I prepare to exit this era with my fellow seniors, I often think about all the stages I’ve gone through these past four years and how quickly they seem to have passed. My biggest advice for anyone still progressing through these fleeting moments is to embrace one meaningful experience at a time and remember, your biggest asset is your ability to respect yourself.
