When asked to write an article that would reflect on my four years at Upper Arlington High School, I was initially floored as to what exactly I should write about. How do I make it my own? How do I make it unique? With this, I proceeded to sift through (what I consider to be) Gen-Z’s most holy grail; my Snapchat memories. It was a long odyssey down to the very beginning of 2020. Snaps of faces 50% covered by masks, videos of the awkward silence from the Zoom breakout rooms, collages of those god-awful beige tiles that lined the walls, and, most notably, the one-way hallways. Freshman year was a fever dream, and I can’t say that I remember much about the old building (especially considering I was only physically in it two out of the five days of the week with new sets of classes each day). But if there was one thing that I could take away from my freshman year, it would be this: everything happens for a reason, which seems to be a common theme throughout my high school experience.
With the swipe of my finger, I scroll to sophomore year: 2021-2022. A brand new high school… which can easily be mistaken for an airport. It was a high upgrade from the one-way hallways to Golden Bear Boulevard, however, it wasn’t just the school that received an upgrade, my life did too. Sophomore year was a turning point for me; I had made varsity in both my sports, and I was finally finding a sense of belonging while navigating the simulation that is high school. I formed some of my best friendships during this year, through all the ups and downs. From getting suspended from the soccer team (if you know, you know), losing our lacrosse state championship game, or drowning in my own tears due to geometry with Mr. Stuhlfauth. It can be concluded that sophomore year was, in fact, a roller coaster ride. However, looking back at the memories now, that year morphed me into the person that I am today. Everything really does happen for a reason, right? Or so I thought. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that this “life motto” was fully challenged and made me contemplate who I was as a person.
My 2022-2023 school year can be described as a minor mid-life crisis all thanks to the college recruiting process. My college recruiting process honestly makes geometry look like a walk in the park, including calls, emails, anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. Junior year and the college recruiting process worked cohesively to push me to my limits. It was hard for me to convince myself that all of this was happening for some unknown reason, however, I persevered through the hard times. Because of that, I eventually saw a red and white light at the end of the tunnel, framed with the words “Boston University.”
Knowing where I was going to college by the end of my junior year, senior year felt like a breath of fresh air. My Snapchat memories have been filled by this year’s enjoyable moments. Stalking endeavors thanks to senior tag, COSI and prom, the endless adventures from skipping school, the list goes on. Yet as I scroll through the infinite amount of photos and videos, I am consumed with the feeling of bittersweetness. This year has been one of reflection, love, freedom, and most importantly, it’s actually been fun. As seniors, our internal clock knows that our time is about to be up, and, for a lot of us, we won’t see each other ever again after May 26. However, it brings me closer in knowing that I have made some of the best relationships throughout my time in high school. To my best friends Lilly, Abbie, Ari, and Ava: Where or who would I be without you guys? The love I have for you all is immeasurable, and you guys can quite literally never get rid of me. To the 2024 senior class, it’s been a ride!
