Towards the end of eighth grade, I began to realize just how quickly my teenage years are going by.  It really felt as though the time between my Weber graduation in June and the first day of freshman year in September passed in just the blink of an eye. 

The prospect of starting high school was terrifying, with depictions of high school in shows and movies making it seem like it was a large intimidating place with the stereotypical jocks, bullies, nerds, and cheerleaders.  Although I have come to realize that this is an inaccurate portrayal, at the time, I was scared for what would come. 

I was certain that I wouldn’t have anyone to sit with at lunch, as well as that I wouldn’t have any friends in my classes. In my particular situation, I had also just had surgery and use a knee scooter when school began, which added to my fears.  However, I soon understood that all of the other freshman felt the same nervousness as me, which allowed me to shift my emotions from fear to excitement. 

The transition from middle school to high school is reflective of a larger transition. Academics become more serious, friendships become more tight-knit, and the prospect of college begins to peak out in the distance. This new chapter of my life has brought me everything I was told it would bring: closer friends, expanding interests, and incredible teachers.  In fact, as I reflect on the advice high schoolers gave me last June, it all turned out to be true.  You won’t always have all of your best friends in your classes, and that’s ok. You also don’t have a need to try and impress anyone.  Most importantly, you should just do your best to keep up with the increasing workload, as it will pay off in the end. 

As my freshman year comes to a close, I am able to properly review the past year.  I can honestly say it has been the best year of my life and I can’t wait for the next three.  To all future freshman, it’s perfectly normal to be apprehensive about change, but just know that the best is yet to come.

For me, sophomore year was both a trying and exciting time.

Most notably, I learned how to tailor my work ethic to meet the demands of the busy sophomore schedule.  I realized that chemistry is not just H₂O and test tubes (you do not actually have to memorize the Periodic Table of Elements—what a relief!).  Nevertheless, chemistry is serious business and all students should take its rigor soberly.

In addition, AP European History is no force to be trifled with either.  While I personally did not have the pleasure of  facing its wrath, many of my friends did and, on their behalf, I will tell you that you must review European history every night if you want to succeed.  Lastly, I learned to use my off periods to my advantage, but I do wish I had studied in the library more often. 

On a lighter note, I turned sixteen and got my learner’s permit, went to a bunch of Sweet 16s, spent most of the year performing on stage, and was inducted into the National English Honors Society.  For freshmen, opportunities both in and out of school are rather limited, but sophomore year provides you with a plethora of freedoms, except the ability to leave campus during school hours. 

I will surely not forget sophomore year anytime soon. Between the memories made, the work put in, and the success achieved, this past school year—so far—is the greatest of my life (I hope it only gets better).  I put in the necessary effort to balance a healthy and academic social life: the perfect recipe for a wonderful year.  I feel ready for whatever junior year throws my way, and I look forward to experiencing the rest of what Schreiber has to offer.

As Schreiber students start to trade books for bathings suits and reading glasses for sunglasses, many juniors feel relieved that the infamous junior year is coming to a close.  I personally found it to be an enriching (albeit hectic) experience as I began the lifestyle transition between grade school and university. 

As I began my year with a cross country meet, two classroom tests, and an ACT all in the first week, the reality of a packed junior year schedule set in rather quickly.  The early acclimation period was by far the most challenging part of the year: I engaged in significant academic triage, while my time spent running cut into my studying and my time spent studying cut into my sleep.  A work-life balance appeared impossible.  Nevertheless, I managed to perform well in and out of the classroom by learning how to handle the workload: I won debates, excelled in cross country, and even co-founded a political awareness club called Haven’t You Heard. I realized from experience that while the load does not get lighter, students almost always find their rhythm and thrive within the chaos.

As the year dragged on, overwhelmingness faded into monotony, and, surprisingly, I regained my appetite for a crowded schedule.  I joined the track team, decided to take two more SAT subject tests, and started writing articles for The Schreiber Times.  As stressful as it was, the junior year experience made me become more aware of my capability to juggle numerous commitments and develop the incredibly important skill of balance.  So was junior year the most fantastic, joyous time of my life?  Absolutely not.  However, it required me to improve my flexibility, independence, commitment, and maturity.  While it has lived up to its stressful reputation, the skills I have acquired throughout this year will surely be vital to my success later in life.  Above all else, one thing is certain; I have learned more this year than I have in previous years, and forgettable is the last word that I would use to describe this experience.

Senior year was the busiest of all four of my years at Schreiber. As the culmination of all of my studies and the grand finale of extracurriculars, it’s no wonder that it’s so monumental. College, cars, coffee (oh my!)- it’s all familiar, but with far more freedom than any of my previous years.

During first semester, I spent most of my free time attempting to decipher the college process. Between the common application, Naviance, informational quizzes, supplement essays, interviews, visits, and portfolio add-ons, it was a lot to handle. Still, at the end of the day, I made it. I survived! Once I climbed up the hill and took the leap into the world of unpredictable applications, I could finally reflect on my three years of hard work. The consequential relief made it easier for me to take everything else in and that there is truly a lot more to senior year to take in than college acceptances.

After college is out of the way, everything is much more exciting. I didn’t have to worry about SATs or ACTs and, though I still wanted to do well in my classes, I didn’t need to be a perfectionist. It feels almost as though every week has constantly been a new ceremony for older students, but now it is suddenly about you.

May and June were months of college garb and sundresses, driving to school for the few classes I had left and spending more time with my friends than I ever had before. It’s a balance between reaching for the next frontier and cherishing the moments I had left at Schreiber with the people and routine I’ve become so comfortable with over the past few years.

More than anything else, this year I’ve learned the importance of letting things go. It’s easy to focus on small things: that one test you failed, one argument you had, or one opportunity you missed. But, at the end of this year, in mere weeks for me, it’ll all be over. This chapter of my life will close and the whirlwind of the next one already feels like it’s coming too soon. So isn’t it better to embrace everything that comes your way, and to let all of the small things go?