After spring break, it’s the best time to be a senior. We have prom, senior picnic, senior sunrise, elephant walk, and finally, graduation. 

Alongside my senior class, I was heartbroken that we would not be able to experience a majority of these events due to COVID-19. Instead, we are stuck in quarantine, completing our last classes online. For some of us, we are considered essential and are working full time. This change of events crushed seniors, but it’s important to remain open-minded and hopeful. 

During quarantine, while trying to stay busy, I began to think about what I would be doing right now if this all never happened – in Student Council, planning the prom, going to lunch with my friends, hitting my last deadline in newspaper. So, instead of drowning myself in regret, I know it’s important to remain positive – I created amazing memories during my years at Judson High School. I try to look back and only remember the highlights of not just my high school career, but what now seems to be the most significant year – my senior year. 

I was a part of Student Council since my freshman year. I was historian in my sophomore year, President of Student Council and the class junior year, and co-president my senior year. It was an absolute adventure of being president of my class for the second year in a row. I had the opportunity to help plan our homecoming dance for the fourth time, every spirit week, and help coordinate my personal favorite – our senior days of volleyball and kickball. (BANGERS remain the best.) Those memories will stick with me forever. I have put in countless hours of community service with that program, and I am so grateful. It all helped shape me into the person I am today. 

Aside from STUCO, I also had the amazing opportunity to be the editor of The Fuel for the second year in a row. Being a part of the countless hours we have put into our hard-working articles helped mold our program to not only be successful but respected throughout the state, spotlighted around the country.

I have always taken our newspaper seriously and am beyond proud of our publications. Looking back at the amount of stress from the pressure of deadlines, the number of arguments we had across the classroom, and the number of times we sent stories back and forth for editing, it all reminded me of how much I fell in love with this program. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to write for The Fuel throughout my high school career and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me as I pursue a career in journalism. I am also thankful for the staff we had this year. We managed to hit every deadline and make it look easy every time.

To the staff, to watch you all grow into the people you are today is so heartwarming and I am so proud of you all. I owe everything I know about journalism to where my passion was rooted in E213. 

With the rest of the organizations I have been a part of throughout my high school career such as tennis, volleyball, National Honor Society, and many more, I’m thankful for the sponsors and coaches for giving me a chance to have an experience with the program. Whether it ended with our last game or some without a goodbye, thank you. Each program I was in played a different part in improving my character. 

Needless to say, I cannot forget to highlight the number of friendships I have made this year. I have always admired the senior classes ahead of mine because of their bond. But now that it is coming to an end, I’ve come to realize that it’s senior year that builds those friendships. It’s the senior events that encourage us to let go and just enjoy it while you can. It’s the thought in the back of my head every day telling me, “this could be your last, so make it worth it.” My senior year would be nothing without the relationships I have grown with my classmates. 

This year has made the question, “Will this matter in ten years?” spiral through every decision I made. I have always believed high school is such a small part of your whole life, so why worry so much about little decisions? This led me to have a mindset of – careful, but free-spirited.  

Reflecting on my senior year is definitely one to admire, cry and most definitely laugh about, but I am so thankful. I am thankful for the teachers, administration, friends and of course, my unbelievably inspiring family for making the best out of this year given the circumstances. In the fall, I will be beginning a new chapter at The University of Texas at Austin where I will be majoring in journalism at the Moody College of Communication. 

Thank you, again, to those who have continuously supported me so that I can be where I am at today. Rocket Pride will remain in my heart forever.

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