Almost my entire high school career has been a series of surprises. Hardly anything has gone as expected.
I was going to be a J’ette all four years and maybe be captain. Nope. I decided not to try out again after my freshman year. I was going to go to Germany with the GAPP. Nope. My recently diagnosed asthma and other health problems forced my doctor to cancel those plans. I was planning to attend an Ivy League university. Nope. I was waitlisted to all that I applied to.
I am normally a very planned and predictable individual. Despite the initial irritation I experienced upon finding out that things would not go as I had hoped, I believe that my high school career has turned out just as it should.
Two years and nine months ago, I never imagined I would be writing my My Turn to be published online. Actually, at the beginning of my sophomore year, I doubt I even intended to be a part of the journalism class for so long. Thirty-three months later, I consider the Crimson Times and now the Crimson J to be my own babies.
Although that sounds odd, I have put so much time and effort into these publications that I have become quite attached. I do not desire to pursue a career in journalism, but I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years in Mrs. Rush’s journalism class.
Without being a part of journalism, I would not have also become a columnist for the Journal Courier, which has been one of the best opportunities. Not only have I had the privilege of publishing my writings every other week, but I have narrowed down my career choices. I definitely do not want to pursue a journalistic career because of this experience. Deadlines are borderline deadly, and I prefer to be inspired. I have realized that forcing creativity results in a complete lack thereof.
Some of the most imperative lessons I’ve learned from high school do not involve any derivatives, literature analysis, or chemical equations. Those might help in college, but others will help me in life in general.
Most importantly, I have learned that life does not always occur as desired. I am not sure if I believe in destiny, but I do think that things have a way of working themselves out – usually for the better.
I was not a J’ette, but I have focused the majority of my free time at Sara’s Studio of Dance. There I was not only a member of the dance company and competition team, but I have been an assistant teacher and choreographer. I now simply cannot imagine my life without dance, or without Sara’s.
I still wish I could have visited Germany, but it provides a chance of a future vacation to visit my partner sisters.
I may not be attending Yale or Princeton, but I am beyond excited to attend Loyola University Chicago next year. Living in the city will offer so many opportunities, and I cannot wait.
I will not be a journalist as most people expect, but I know now that I want to be more of an analytical thinker. I do not know what I will major in or what graduate school I will go to. However, that’s the fun in it.
Next year in college, I will only know one person from JHS, and the rest will be complete strangers. I will be living in a totally new environment. I really don’t know what to expect.
For once in my life, I’m fine with that. I want to be surprised. I can only have confidence that it will all be alright in the end. And from what I’ve experienced in high school, I am certain that it will be.