FOUR YEARS A SABER, FOUR YEARS OF ADVENTURe

The start of a new school year can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Whether it be new, challenging classes, another season of your favorite sport, or an exciting year of a club or extracurricular, there’s a plethora of things that happen within the walls of the high school. Each year is a time to endure new subjects, excitement, stress, and opportunities but it’s also a time to look back and reflect on how much we’ve grown.

For Freshmen, this is a year of new opportunities and experiences, but it can also be scary. The stress of harder classes and a new school environment can often leave you feeling overwhelmed. It’s important to remember that you aren’t alone, when Senior Emma Kizer looks back on her Freshman year, she remembers what she learned, “Don’t be afraid to talk to people,” Emma says. “Every Freshman is a little scared. You have to get involved in school and put yourself out there.” For some, that might be joining a new club, for others, that might be joining a sport you’ve never done before. Whatever it is, this year is the year to try something different and know that no matter what, you’ll find where you fit in the chaos that can be high school.

To Sophomores, this year can seem uneventful. High school isn’t as new as it was when you were a freshman but you still don’t have the stresses and strengths of upperclassmen. However, this doesn’t mean your year can’t be great. As Sophomores, you now know your way around and can use that to your advantage to start doing more. Let this be the year that you discover yourself, figure out where you want to fit in the next few years and remove the toxic things that are holding you back. It could be habits, people, or activities that you don’t want to carry with you for the rest of high school. These things will only hurt you in the long run and will keep you from being successful in the future. When Rory Maricle reminisces about last year she remembers that “Every one of us, as high school students, has a place here, and Sophomore year is the perfect time to try new things and figure out just where that might be.” Let this be your year of personal growth and discovery as you continue on your path in school.

Junior year is often known as the most stressful. Your classes are harder and you’ve got a lot on your plate and it can often feel like you’re drowning. As Kailey Clark recalls, the year went by quickly, “To me junior year seemed to be long while it was happening but looking back it went a lot faster than it seemed, so just take every opportunity because the chance may not present itself again.” However, don’t forget to take a breath every now and then and give yourself a chance to relax and recharge, otherwise, the year will be even harder. This is another year that you can’t shy away from asking for help. A lot of times it can feel like you’re facing these challenges on your own but you’ve got friends and teachers there to support you. Instead, reach out to these people and figure out a plan to help you get all of your classwork done, while still leaving some time for your own needs as well.

Seniors, this is an important year. This is the year we get to leave our last impressions on this school and the people we’ve met along the way. Will your last impression be good or bad? What is the legacy you want to leave for future students? Senior Year is also a year of choices. A year of figuring out what the next chapter of our life will be like. These choices can often seem daunting, but it’s important to not let them keep you from enjoying your last year. This is a year of a lot of lasts: last performances, last seasons, last times in these halls. But with each last, we remember the firsts. That first time we got to play varsity, the first time we stepped out onto the stage in front of an audience, and that first class sitting nervously in our desks. Senior year is a time to remember everything that has led us to this moment and to look towards what will come next.

So as you start this next year of your school career, let yourself grow and learn from the last. As you pass other students in the halls, remember that each year is filled with its own successes and struggles and that we have or will face them eventually. But most importantly, remember that a new adventure is around every corner if you’re willing to take a chance and let yourself enjoy the ride.

- Ethan Dickey (Editor)