There are these pen marks on this door. A plain white door with lines and numbers that record my height at certain ages. When I was little, I always thought it was a weird tradition to mark your height every year on your birthday. Like why? 

While examining those markings years later, I found something irresistible about them— there is this continuous measuring of growth. 

In my freshman year, I was never confident. I hated engaging in Socratic seminars, presenting my Google slides in front of the class, and sharing my ideas on class projects. Or maybe I was just hungry and thinking about food all the time. Seriously, my stomach would literally growl every five minutes. Typical freshman me.

In my sophomore year I was more sure of myself but still felt lost, but at least I had a decent tennis year. 

Afterwards covid began. 

Then comes junior year—let’s forget that year ever existed. 

Finally, the year I’ve been dreadfully waiting for: senior year. Ah, yes, the classic Deja vu feeling of ‘I can’t wait to get out of high school’ or ‘I can’t wait for college’. Stop and think for a moment of the great development of growth you’ve experienced. 

You can be seen as the most beautiful, popular, smart, fashionable person in the world, and everyone sees the cheezy sunshine and rainbows when they look at you, but if you don’t see or know yourself at all, all of that doesn’t matter. Every second, minute, or hour you spend criticizing and doubting yourself is a second, minute or hour of your life wasted. It’s a moment of your existence thrown away. It’s not as if you have forever in your lifetime. 

Make the most out of it. Don’t throw out every moment, because you might be growing into loving yourself. 

As a senior, I know I flourished. 

From baby to toddler. From kindergarten to middle school. From middle to high school. From JV to Varsity tennis. From Graphic Design to joining Newspaper. From a freshman to a soon to be graduated student. 

We’re all aware that college is coming up soon and we’re feeling these emotions of anxiousness, edginess, or maybe excitement. It’s totally normal to be feeling these instincts about starting college. 

High school is a time for growth, so use this opportunity to enjoy and find yourself, and begin to acknowledge where and what your dream is for your future. 

I’ve learned throughout my four years of high school to stop rushing things that need time to grow — and I still am. 

What I’m saying is that you need to take responsibility and start doing all the things you said you were going to do before there was doubt, fear, and worry. Sometimes the brief moment of courage that allows you to believe in yourself and your dreams is possible. You have to start chasing them along with your growth, because I’m certain it will all come true. 

As I wrap up, I want to say thank you for letting me be part of the BV Tiger community. I’ll never forget the wonderful memories I made here and the amazing friends that supported me. Lastly, I want to thank the newspaper staff and Mrs. Huss for all their hard work. 

I’m grateful for each and every one of you. Class of 2022, explore and grow your spirit. ‘Cause no one, and I mean no one, knows your measurement of growth better than you. 

So, that’s it. My last page. My last goodbye. One last hug.