If I could give one piece of advice to my freshman self, it would be this: go for it, do what you want to do, and don’t let others dictate that for you. I think I differ from most students in that I knew what I wanted to do after high school even before freshman year. Since middle school, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Sometimes, though, when I would share my plans people would reply along the lines of, “Oh no, you should be going into STEM or something smart and important,” which was weird because I wasn’t asking for advice. This confused me and sometimes made me wonder if I was making the right choice. However, for each of these comments, there were just as many encouraging people who kept me going through it all.
I’ve realized that the best parts of high school, and life, are the connections we form with others. It’s the late-night study sessions with friends, the laughter shared during rehearsals, and the bonds we create during long practices. These are the moments that shape us. And what I will remember most about high school: the people. I am a people person who loves any opportunity to work with others. I sang in three choirs, ran for cross country, and have been involved in various UAHS theater productions in the last four years. For many seniors, freshman year was a strange hybrid schedule that combined in-person and digital learning. For others, including me, freshman year was entirely digital. Being entirely online for my first year of high school was an interesting experience with its challenges. But I did enjoy being able to finish my classes two weeks early and only having to work four hours a day. The downside: I had little connection outside my home as I did not attend school in person. Cross country and the musical “Something Rotten” gave me opportunities to meet people and transition into high school that I wouldn’t have otherwise had.
As is sort of stereotypical for UA, every time I chose the next year’s schedule, I filled it with honors and AP classes. While stressful, each class had something fun that made the work worthwhile. Two of those classes became my absolute favorite: AP Euro and APUSH were not only the highlight of my day, but also semi-inspired my career choices. Mr. Endres’ enthusiasm and storytelling made each event in Euro come to life. Ms. Vergis’ love for U.S. History created an immersive learning environment and countless fun discussions, some more on-topic than others.
I am incredibly grateful for these last 12 years at Upper Arlington and all of the opportunities it has provided. From the Big Toy and town hall meetings at Wickliffe, to the Gaga games and Geo Challenge in Ms. Balogs’ science class at Hastings, to all of the performances in the PAC at the high school, my time in UA has left me with memories that I will keep for the rest of my life. Along with these experiences, I am incredibly grateful for all of the amazing teachers I have had. I will never forget when Mrs. Mengali brought our kindergarten class White Castle as a special treat and let us all get into the back of my dad’s dump truck when he visited. My future plans include going to Michigan State University for education and then becoming an elementary school teacher. And who knows… maybe I’ll even come back to teach at UA.
