For the past four years, I have written numerous stories about this school. In each of them, I was able to find the right words to describe why they make this place what it truly is. But in this story, those words are no longer coming to me. This one is much more difficult to write because it is the last one I will ever write for the Concord Chronicle.
Saying goodbye to something is never easy, but when it has been such an important part of your life for so long, it makes it that much harder. Not only have I learned so much, but this school truly has felt like family.
When I was a freshman, I had a distinct memory of listening to a senior give a speech about how quickly their past four years had gone by. At the time, I remember thinking it would take forever until I was in their place. Now, as I approach graduation, I realise that they were right.
Each year flew by, leaving me only with the memories. Some of them were big, like when I was able to be on Snowcoming court with my friends and family, when I retired, then unretired from basketball, or when I had the opportunity to take pictures at the Breslin Center. Most of my favorite memories came from small things, like talking to everyone in the hallways or getting to take pictures of them. In those moments, the people are what made them truly matter.
I have always heard that you are who you spend your time with, and looking back, I hope I picked up a little bit of the people who were such a big part of my time here.
From Bella, I hope I learned how to be a more lighthearted person. She is funny, kind, and always willing to help me without hesitation. From Cece, I hope I learned to be more myself. She is funny, talented, and always unapologetically herself.
From Mrs. O, I hope I learned what it means to truly care for people. She is loving, a great listener, and someone who truly believes in me. Her advice has made me feel proud to be who I am. I will miss her dearly and hope to be like her one day.
And from Ms. Kelly, I hope I learned how to be determined and a more accepting person. She introduced me to a passion for writing and photography. She trusted me enough to play with it over time until I found my style in both, which I am endlessly grateful for. She has been a constant support for me my entire high school journey, and someone I could always go to for advice, and I will miss her dearly.
Each one of these people and so many others has shaped me in so many ways. As I leave Concord, I hope that my mark reflects what I have learned from each of them.
Leaving here is both exciting and scary for me. It is hard to explain what high school meant to me, but I do know when I look back, I won’t be disappointed; I’ll be grateful. Grateful for everyone and everything I had the opportunity to encounter.
Now, I say goodbye. Goodbye to Concord High School and to the Concord Chronicle. Both have meant a lot to me, so thank you to them for everything.
