By AVA ALBICOCCO and REMI WEBB
Dear Junior Year,
We entered this school year fearful because of the stereotypes about you that we have heard. We were warned about the intensity of this year; we knew balancing homework, extracurriculars, standardized tests, driving lessons, sports, college applications, and our social lives was not going to be an easy task. We were drowned in commitments in and out of school, but through our struggles, we were able to make unbreakable bonds with our peers.
Sometimes we woke up at 6 a.m. to finish the work we didn’t have time to finish the night before by the haunting 11:59 p.m. deadline. This exhausted our mental health and sometimes even made it a struggle to make it through the day. The soul-stirring, red “late” message on Canvas was dreadful. Sometimes we attended several clubs and extra help sessions in the morning before the school day even began. Sometimes we had the ability to sleep in late.
The pressure we faced was much greater than we had been used to in our previous high school years. Drinking caffeinated drinks every morning to awaken our brains became a routine. We tried to stand out while also trying to fit in, whether it be what clubs we joined or what outfits we wore. Everyone wanted to be a unique individual while also being part of a group.
Though we faced a variety of challenges throughout this past year, we also made cherishable memories and learned valuable lessons that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. We formed new relationships and proved to ourselves that we are capable of accomplishing more than we ever thought.
After taking several driving lessons and finally completing driver’s ed, we were granted our driver’s licenses and felt a new sense of freedom. We now had the ability to take a break from society and social pressure. We had the option to be independent and take full responsibility for a self-sufficient life. Driving brought a shining light to a year that contained numerous downfalls.
Many of us saw our dedication and hard work pay off as we received our SAT and ACT scores. We worked so hard preparing for these tests throughout this year. Our textbooks were worn out, and as this year came to an end, we were finally able to put them away. The feeling of accomplishment was truly incomparable.
Junior Year, you helped us became more mature and sophisticated. You assisted in the process of becoming a senior because we have developed new character traits that will stick with us throughout college. We will forever remember the difficulties of pushing forward towards the end of our high school years while also ensuring that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Sincerely,
Remi Webb and Ava Albicocco