Well, here we are. The long road of high school has come to an end, and with it comes my last issue on The Journal. It’s almost surreal to think about.

This year has meant a lot of endings: my last concerts, my last AP tests, my last Journal Christmas party, my last time roaming the halls as a student. So many “lasts” that were only compounded by the abrupt ending of the school year brought on by COVID-19.

One of my “lasts” that I was most looking forward to was the music department’s Extravaganza concert. I was so excited to sing with my friends in Premium Blend one last time and to get to perform the senior song, “In My Life” by The Beatles, as I watched the slideshow of my classmates and friends. Over the last four years, that concert has represented a kind of closure and final goodbye, and I’m sad I won’t get to experience that for myself. 

But, I still think “In My Life” is one of the best songs to listen to moving forward through this strange, abnormal time.

It’s basically a song of goodbye. In it, the singer reminisces on his past and comments on his memories of the places, people and things he has known and encountered throughout his life. He knows he’ll “never lose affection” for the people he’s known and the things he’s done, and that he’ll “often stop and think about them.” The song is full of love and warmth and a little bit of heartache, a lot like the end of senior year.

These last four years have been some of the best of my short life. I remember being a scared little freshman just trying to keep afloat in the world of rapid change that is the transition from middle school to high school. When I look back on who I was then and who I am now, I’m amazed at how different I am today.

My time at SHS truly changed me for the better. It wasn’t all good by any means, but I would be a fool to ignore the real growth that my high school years ushered in. My time being involved with The Journal taught me real work ethic and leadership skills and allowed my creativity to flourish. My four years as part of the choir department gave me a chance to branch out a bit and escape from the stress of schoolwork and gave me an outlet to really express myself doing what I loved most. And, the three fall seasons I spent as part of the cast of SHS musical productions helped teach commitment skills that I would be remiss to be without. “All these places had their moments” in my life, and even though I have to walk away from them now, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience them. 

The thing about SHS that changed me the most was the people. I’ve met and known so many truly amazing people over my four years here, people that I couldn’t envision my life without. Whether they were my teachers, administrators, friends or classmates, they have left a tangible impact on my life. “I’ll never lose affection” for the people I’ve known and the time I’ve spent with them throughout my years at SHS.

Whenever I listen to “In My Life,” it is the people I think of. I think of my friends and classmates of 13 years that have always been there for as long as I remember. I think of all of my teachers, especially David Luers and Mike Klopfenstein, who have taught me so much inside and outside of the classroom. All of these people are what made SHS so special to me, and they are what make it so hard to say goodbye, especially under these circumstances. 

I’ll forever hold these last four years near and dear to my heart. I know a lot of people don’t like high school, and don’t get me wrong, I am ready to move on to college and the rest of my life. But, that eagerness to move forward doesn’t outweigh the memorable moments of the past.

“There are places I’ll remember all my life, though some have changed,” and SHS is one of those places. In the years ahead, “I know I’ll often stop and think” about the time spent here with great friends and great people. Just know that “in my life, I love you more.”