Farewell Fresno High
To be able to say goodbye to high school comes as a challenge as it is the most joyful yet intimidating thing to do. I cannot lie and say high school was the worst experience of my life, but it was also not the best. To be here every day for four years and one day walk away like it was nothing seems so odd to me, I cannot do that. Highschool meant something to me, even in my worst times. Somedays I am scared for what my future holds. When I leave, I must start adulthood and that is terrifying in a way, but my parents always pushed me to do better when I let my grades drop, they knew I was not doing all that I am capable of. So, every day I am glad that they did it because I feel so happy to graduate with a sense of pride that I did it.
Coming into high school, I had no idea what to expect, my first year of high school was completely online due to Covid. High school honestly did not feel real until my junior year because my whole sophomore year was a mess as covid was still on the rise. We just tried to bring back whatever normalcy we could, despite kids leaving for weeks for quarantine. During Covid I lost myself, no one knew it, but I did. Covid broke me as it put me through this sense of depression for periods at a time, completely alone at home, alone in my mind, drained me. I remember for the longest time I could not get myself to be the old me, I used to love sports, going out with my family but that all changed. Before I knew it, I hated things I used to love, but I had to lose myself to find myself again. Once Covid completely died out, I felt this sense of relief, that I could be happy again, go take chances on new things. It felt amazing and when school started, I went to cart that year and joined the marching band. I felt like myself again, I honestly gained my sense of personal confidence and happiness back that year.
The memories I made because of the band are so indescribably comforting. The chance to experience all the competitions, football games, rallies and band hosted events was something I am glad to have done the past two years. Spending all this time with my peers in band every day for two years, countless Saturdays and nights builds such a safe environment. I know that when I needed it, the band was another home to me, they were another family to me. Because of the band, I felt like I had a reason to enjoy high school, the band gave me moments I could look back on forever and still be able to feel the joy I felt there. I never would have met my girlfriend either if I hadn’t joined band, if I didn’t let myself be happy and take those chances, I knew I couldn’t pass up because now I can’t imagine a time, she wasn’t in my life helping me succeed, supporting me in my interest and school or a time that I didn’t know my peers in band. I cannot thank Mr. Reynolds enough for being the one to convince me to join again, because of him I feel like I made something of myself here, even if no one cared enough to pay attention to us.
Throughout my high school life, I have had many friends come and go but that’s just how life is, I must be able to move forward for myself and those who are trusted enough to stay in my life, no matter how few. Highschool always had its difficulties but in the end, it helped me get back on track with my life, it helped me build my future because of those few teachers who made school tolerable. Those teachers and counselors who pushed me to do better helped me see my potential in life so that now I feel ready to be able to leave and start working towards my career. To leave high school and start this new chapter in my life is something a part of me wishes I never had to do, to grow up feels so heartbreaking but I also feel a sense of happiness now that I get to go make my parents, my grandparents, my brothers, and those teachers who saw my potential, proud. All my failures and successes lead me to where I am today, and I am more than okay with that. The path of life is always bumpy but to be able to push through is what makes one strong. It feels so rewarding to say goodbye to high school now seeing the person it helped shape me into.