Walking into room 242 on the first day of high school was an experience unlike any other. It was the only class I had with so many upperclassmen, and to be honest I didn’t know exactly what I had gotten myself into.
On that very first day I was one of five freshmen walking into that class, sitting at the very front. However, I wasn’t nervous and that was for one reason only: the teacher standing at the front of the room, Mrs. Starr. This teacher had the biggest smile plastered on her face, and an abundance of energy that just seemed to scare away any nerves I had. Throughout the week we learned all about our roles as journalists, and how 90% of the people do 10% of the work, and those of us sitting in that class were the 10%. Though what came on Friday is the reason I’m writing this: our weekly journal. For those who didn’t have the pleasure of having Mrs. Starr as your teacher, each Friday throughout the school year there is an assigned journal. Each week there were two new prompts to write about, or you could freewrite about anything on your mind. As a senior in my last week of high school, I am so forever grateful that Mrs. Starr made this assignment because I now get to look at a time capsule of my life these past four years. Though I know I still have years ahead of me, I’m hoping to share a little from my journals over the past four years as a way to impart some of my wisdom on the underclassmen who follow in my footsteps.
Week 1 (freshman year)
Prompt: What worries/concerns are you having right now about the start of school in general? What are you most excited about? My answer: I am concerned about all the homework and grades of high school. In middle school I easily was able to pass my classes with little to no effort because it was very easy for me but I am concerned that high school will be very difficult and I am really scared I won’t be able to get good grades. I am most excited about my sports team because I love being around my teammates and playing with them. I love all the activities that the soccer team does and I just love being on the team.
Looking back my biggest tip would be to know that with grades it all works out. Do your best in school by getting help from classmates and teachers, studying effectively and doing your homework, but don’t worry about a grade on an Algebra 2 quiz because you will still get into college. As much as I worried over my grades these past four years, I am so lucky to be attending the University of Florida in the fall where I hope to continue my passions as a journalist. As for soccer, I continued to play all four years of high school. I am forever grateful to each and every teammate who helped me to make so many memories on that field, and for anyone considering trying out for any sports team or any school activity my advice is to always give it a shot. My best friends and best memories are made from the sports I played at Wootton and if given the chance, I would do it all over again.
Week 7 (sophomore year)
Prompt: How was homecoming? Did you like the new GloCo event? Did you do something else with friends? Or did you take a pass and spend the weekend doing as you preferred?
My answer: I thought that homecoming was fun this year. The new GloCo event was a big hit I think because people enjoyed it much more than last year and they were able to save money. I did stuff with friends over the weekend so I was very tired but it was fun to be with my friends.
Go to school events! I cannot stress this enough, but being an active member in your school community is one of the best experiences in high school. Though my response doesn’t encapsulate all the fun I had at GloCo, just being there with my friends and making memories is all that matters. Whether being a part of a sports program, a club, SGA, theater, or the best option, newspaper, just simply being involved really ensures you soak up all that high school has to offer. It’s never cringy or embarrassing to be part of making a school better, so while you have the chance just try to find ways to be involved.
Week 10 (junior year)
Prompt: What are you excited to do over spring break?
My answer: Over break I went skiing in Quebec at Mont Tremblant! I thought skiing in April was going to be rough because it is so warm, but while we were skiing we actually got 3 inches of snow. It was cold, but not cold enough to make me freeze the whole time which was so amazing. The town at the bottom of the mountain was so beautiful and quaint and you truly felt like you were in a small European ski town (even though it was only like 10 hours away!). The skiing was also amazing! With the fresh powder, my brother and I skied in the trees and it was so fluffy and felt like clouds. I loved it so so much!
So many of my journal responses were about seemingly trivial events like what I ate for dinner, what my favorite pajamas were and even what I did over spring break. Though reading back through these entries opened a floodgate of memories that take me back to times I didn’t even know were so special in my life. Looking back at this trip now I loved being able to explore this mountain with my brother and my dad, and just make new memories and wish that I was able to go on this trip again. My advice after reading this journal is to simply spend more time with your loved ones. It’s honestly unreal that in only three months I’ll be living 11 hours away from my family, so for those who still have time left – just cherish every moment. Even when you would rather be with friends, or alone, just cherish those family dinners and game nights, because they don’t last forever. Don’t take those trips, those moments or those experiences for granted, just enjoy the time you can spend with your family.
Week 22 (senior year)
Prompt: Freewrite: share whatever is on your mind.
My answer: Recently I have been very stressed about college. I’ve been so grateful to have been accepted into as many schools as I have been, but making this tough decision with so many schools I’m interested in is difficult. I’m finding it hard to really see myself at any school. I really hope that once I get to a school I will enjoy it, however I just don’t know how to know. People always say “when you know, you know,” but I just don’t think that’s the case for me. I can’t really imagine going to college, I didn’t really think it was a part of my life that I actually had to do, it just seemed so far away and unreal. Now it’s here, and I can’t really see myself being a college student. I guess like everything else this year, it’s just a big change. I never really could see myself driving, and now I drive everywhere. I never saw myself as a senior, and here I am in my second semester. It is kind of sad to look back and realize that high school and my life as I know it is over, so maybe that’s why I can’t pick a school because that makes it real. That makes the intangible just a little more tangible and I think that scares me. This might be a little too deep, but just something on my mind 🙂
Honestly, sharing this journal is pretty intense. This was from just a few weeks ago, but even in that short time so much has changed for me as a senior. Firstly, I would like to say the theory that “when you know, you know” isn’t for everyone. When I was deciding which college to attend, I visited and loved so many of them for all their unique attributes and while I love UF, I didn’t just automatically know and that’s OK. My biggest tip for anyone struggling with deciding anything is to ask for the help of those who know you the best. Whether or not they can give you a straight forward answer, just talking it out really helps to clear your mind and focus on what you truly want. Also if what you are deciding does happen to be about college decisions, Mrs. Starr is always there to listen and gives the best advice. As for leaving high school I can’t really give advice on something that I have yet to experience, but for any underclassmen I would just say to live in the moment. Even though those grades, tests, sports, and end-all-be-all AP exams seem to take up all your time, just know that in five years you won’t remember what you scored on your sophomore year pre-calc quiz, you’ll remember all the laughter and smiles when spending time with friends and family.
In less than two weeks I will officially be a high school graduate, and I am so grateful for each memory made at this school. Despite all of the chaos that occurred this year, my high school experience has been unforgettable. From finding my best friends to growing up as a person and a player on the lacrosse team, I wouldn’t change a single thing. I would like to write a thank you Mrs. Starr for being someone I could always look up to and count on. You have been such a role model for me these past four years and I hope that I can continue to seek your advice in the future. Though I’ve never been a writer who can keep it short, this last article I’m finding it difficult to call it done. It’s hard to encapsulate the last four years of my life in less than 2,000 words, but thank you to Wootton Common Sense and thank you to everyone who has been a part of my high school journey. Roll Pats!
