The end of the year is quickly approaching, and I can’t help but become emotional thinking about it. Everybody tells you high school flies by, that it’s over before you know it, and I never believed them until now. Now, I’m sitting here, four weeks away from saying goodbye to some of my best friends and entering my senior year.

The class of 2018 is the first group that I’m connected to. I’m genuinely dreading their graduation and expecting a swarm of tears. We’ve spent years sitting beside each other in classes, singing in chorus concerts together and writing together in newspaper. Thus, my life at Chapman will be very different without them. We’ve shared laughs and tears, cheers at football games and dressed up together over Homecoming and Relay weeks. I’m excited to see where their future takes them, but I can’t help but have some selfish notions wanting them to stay.

To the seniors, thank you. Thank you for taking the class of 2019 under your wing and being with us to make memories that we’ll never forget. In the classroom, on the field, or with life in general, you’ve pushed us along and spoken encouragement over our lives. Through taking us to state twice you’ve shown great leadership and humility. You lead with joy and school spirit through every event and will be leaving us big shoes to fill, but ones that we’ll gladly take.

While we’ve had the best time here together, I wish you nothing but the best in the years to come. I’m excited to see your big ambitions and willingness to push through every struggle and reach to places other than Inman. I wish you were here, but I know you will impact everyone you come in contact with, just as you did with my class and Chapman High School.