As I sit and write my final story for Publications, I can’t help but realize how fast time truly goes by. I have made some of the greatest memories throughout my high school career here at Concord. From making friendships that will last a lifetime, building meaningful connections with my teachers, and experiencing the best basketball season of my life, Concord has truly changed me for the better, and I could not be more grateful for everything this school has done for me.
I first joined Publications during my sophomore year. At the time, I had no idea how to write a story or what it truly meant to be a Publications student. Thanks to the people ahead of me who pushed me to be my best, my writing, problem-solving skills, and the way I carried myself improved drastically from sophomore year to now. Throughout my life, I’ve had many great mentors, and one of the most impactful has been Ms. Kelly. From me coming into class freshman year bouncing off the walls and probably driving her crazy to now, I can honestly say she has changed my life. Whether it was pushing me to be better, being there for me when I was down, or simply celebrating the little things together with donuts from The Foundry, Ms. Kelly has had an incredible impact on my life, and I will never be able to thank her enough for everything she has done for me.
At Concord, everyone knows everyone, and everyone leaves an impact in some way. There have been many students and teammates who have shaped my last four years. First, I want to talk about the students. You never know how far a smile or a quick joke can go for someone having a bad day. I want to encourage everyone to never give up on making Concord a better place. There is still work to do, but if we work together, we can make not only Concord, but the world around us, a better place. Never stop loving one another.
Lastly, I want to talk about my teammates. Over the past four years, I’ve seen many teammates come and go, and together we have faced a lot of adversity. One moment that especially impacted me happened during my junior year, when someone I looked up to not only as a basketball player but as a person passed away in a car accident after one of our practices. That person was Fred. Fred was my AAU basketball coach, and he would often stop by our practices or text me about what I needed to improve on. Sometimes I would brush it off, but after he passed, I realized everything he said came from a place of love because he wanted the best for me. His passing truly rocked my heart and changed the way I look at life.
Never stop loving one another, and never take anything for granted. Your breath, your days, and your family are all blessings, and that is something worth remembering every day. Our entire senior season was dedicated to Fred. If you stood around long enough, you would hear us break down every huddle with “For Fred on three.” He was a huge part of our championship run. Through hard practices, workouts when we didn’t feel like it, and putting aside our differences for one goal, staying together and fighting to win it all for Fred.
As I conclude my final story, I can truly say Concord has changed my life. I could not have asked for anything more from this school or the people in it. Thank you to everyone who made these past four years feel like home. I will never take for granted the journey I’ve had here, and I hope everyone remembers one thing:
Never stop loving one another.
