My high school experience didn’t exactly go as planned. I went to three schools, moved 800 miles and joined a group of people who read something called the AP Style Book like it’s the Bible. And I wouldn’t change any of it.

Media has given me so much. When I was new and lost, yearbook helped me memorize the layout of the school because I had to interview people. When I was clueless and uninformed, newspaper helped me learn what was going on in and out of school. Above all, though, yearbook and newspaper gave me my first set of real friends after moving and it gave me a place where I finally felt at home.

I have a lot of people to thank, and I most definitely won’t be able to include them all but I’m going to try anyway. First, I want to thank Mrs. Kidder. There’s only a handful of teachers I can say genuinely impacted me, and you definitely make it on that list. You not only opened up your class to me halfway through the year, but you also gave me a place to open up and I know that I can depend on you. You have all of your students’ best interests at heart and being blessed with a teacher like that is priceless. Thank you.

For my staff this year, thank you for all the wild story pitch meetings, out-of-pocket comments and support you guys gave me. Nat, Ezra, Kate and Delaney, you guys are amazing. You’re going to do great things after high school and, Nat, you’re going to be a wonderful managing editor. You’re so smart, funny and encouraging – the perfect combination for a leader. Just make sure Mac doesn’t go on too many rants about elected officials.

And that brings me to a very important person I need to thank: Mac. You’ve been doing newspaper with me for more than a year now and at one point it was literally just the two of us. Mac and cheese. The best combo, the best team and one of the hardest things to say goodbye to. What lightens the blow, however, is that I know you’re going to take the newspaper staff even further. You put so much time and effort into newspaper and I’m beyond thankful for it. The staff next year is so lucky to have you as their editor-in-chief.

On the flip side of media, there’s the yearbook staff. Melani and Alaina, I’m so glad I met you guys. I love hearing all the drama in the hallway and being late to class because of it, and I love that I know there’s someone who will beat anyone up for me (I’m talking about you, Alaina). You guys are going to have such a great senior year next year and I know you guys will do great leading the staff.

Hannah, thank you for the hugs. I love that no matter what I’m doing, no matter what time it is or where we are, as soon as you see me you give me a hug. You’re so kind and I just know you’re going to blow us all away in the future.

KATEEEE, I saved the best for last. Thank you for being my buddy from the first day I moved to Heritage. We’ve sung Hannah Montana, Pitbull and “Lipgloss” together, edited the yearbook like bosses together and I can’t wait to see what we do together next. You’re going slay the day away at Texas State and I’m so thankful God blessed me with you as a friend. 

For everyone else that helped me get through high school, my parents and family, Catlyn, Amber, Julia and so many others, thank you. I wouldn’t be where I am today with each and every one of you. 

So, I guess that’s it. I’d like to think that I’m prepared for the future, but I’m pretty sure we all know that isn’t the case. Life throws you curveballs, like moving to a small town you’ve never heard of before, but even that ended up being a huge blessing in disguise. I wouldn’t be the same without those curveballs, so I hope they keep coming.