As I approach the last two months of my high school journey, I have learned many important values and life lessons. But as I near the end, I want to circle back to where my journalism journey began, with my very first editorial as a sophomore. 

In that piece, I wrote about the idea that hard work does not always guarantee success. I remember how passionate I felt about that message, even as I was just starting to experience the beginnings of what it meant to feel pressure and face expectations. Now as I begin to near the end of this chapter of my life, I can say with certainty that this statement still stands.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be given an immense amount of opportunities and have my own fair share of successes. However, there have been many moments where I have spent sleepless nights working towards something that didn’t result in the outcome I had hoped for. Similarly, I have seen others, such as family members, friends and classmates, who dedicate themselves to something only to be met with silence and rejection.

“Hard work pays off” is a phrase that can act as a comforting reminder to many people. However, the reality is that there are so many factors that go beyond our control. Life is full of unexpected setbacks and complexities that can sometimes cause plans to change. 

Nevertheless, as bleak as this message may sound so far, there’s a far more important lesson I’ve come to understand: hard work still holds a great amount of value. It can open doors to new opportunities, build discipline and teach resilience. A part of life is to learn how to navigate the world even when the odds are against us and how we learn to overcome obstacles through it all. 

As I finish writing this final editorial, I want to leave behind the same message that I began with, but now with better understanding and a lived experience. Working hard may not guarantee success, but it turns you into someone who can conquer the moments when success seems out of reach.