I ended last year standing at the podium alongside my Managing Editors Ayslin Bowman and Grace Wilson, ready to brave the storm of over 30 nervous-looking staff members.
From that moment on, I’ve felt almost every emotion in that very classroom: happiness, sadness, gratitude, frustration, embarrassment – the whole gamut.
With each moment that filled me with joy, I couldn’t shake the tiny voice in my head that was reminding me of one thing: this was it. My last year.
I’ve spent the last four years in Room 400, and I can’t believe it’s over.
All year, I’ve been preparing for college, and there were days where I just wanted high school to be over. If I had known better, I would’ve stopped all the planning and just taken it all in. Now I’m in the final days, and it feels as though I didn’t have enough time.
Each day I’ve spent in Room 400 has been one of my favorites. I knew every time I walked through that door that something interesting would happen.
I don’t think anything could prepare me for the final moments, though.
Because I started the year with a Taylor Swift lyric, I only saw it fit to end the year with one as well.
One of my favorite songs, especially one that I’ve held close to my heart this year as I get ready to leave, “Never Grow Up,” is about just that.
The song starts with Swift repeating “Oh, darling, don’t you ever grow up,” in the chorus, but in the last verse, she switches to “Wish I’d never grown up.” This shift that Swift shows is exactly how this last year has gone for me.
I’ve heard the phrase “never grow up” on countless occasions throughout the years. I always ignored it, since I’ve always been the kid that was excited for what’s next. However, and I know this sounds cliche, I should’ve listened.
Now, I’m realizing everyone was right. I’ve had an unforgettable four years in this room, and I don’t know that I’ll ever be ready to leave. With that, I know that I’ll use everything I’ve learned here not just in college, but in the rest of my life.
And hey, I know it sounds cliche, but seriously, never grow up.
