Reflections on Senior Year

Growing up being the youngest, I always heard the words, “Enjoy high school it goes by fast.” I would always disregard these words. After all, it's for whole years! That always seemed pretty long to me.

However, when you are surrounded by people you love and do the things you love, four years actually seems close to nothing.

These past four years have been some of the best years of my life. I have met so many new people, grown in so many different ways, and best of all I have learned so much about myself and what I can handle.

High school has honestly been such a positive experience for me. From the get go I was involved in ASB, cross country, and track and field. Throughout the years I have grown my involvement in several clubs, such as CSF, NHS, and of course, Journalism. I have dedicated lots of my time to cross country and track and field, as I enjoy the chase and challenge of bettering myself and beating who I was the day (or race) before. Sports taught me great work ethic and has shown me how to persevere, and how to challenge my grit.

However, along with the running aspect, there has also been the social aspect of these sports. I have truly met some of my best friends. Some of them have graduated and some of them I am leaving behind when I graduate. I am so grateful for my teammates as their support means the world to me, and I appreciate it more than I could ever say. I am so very grateful to have been given the opportunity and privilege to be captain of the girls cross country team.

To my XC girls: Thank you for the love, support, and trust, I am so proud of each and every one of you and I know the future is bright for this team.

I have also been very involved in ASB for the past four years. Whether it be rally set up, ticket sales, or any other event, I have met and gotten to know so many people I never would have met otherwise.

Along the way, I have also experienced a LOT of failure, but I have learned how to learn from my mistakes. I have had my fair share of poor scores on an exam, staying up late doing homework, and stressfully checking my AP exam scores on release day.

However, the best advice I can give regarding failure, not only in school, but also in sports and everyday life, is that failure will teach you more than success ever will.

If you succeed all the time, you will never feel the need to work harder or focus on the things you fall short on. When you fail or make a mistake, it pulls your attention to the things you need to work on, and shifts your priorities to better yourself and the skills you do not yet have.

This year has tested me in ways I never would have expected. Senior year is portrayed as “carefree” and full of joy, however there were many moments where I did not share this experience, as this is ultimately unrealistic.

In November, just days after I had won the cross country League Finals for the first time, my aunt passed away. After having one of (what has been so far) the best moments of my life, I found out someone so close to me was gone. This juxtaposition shows the entire feeling of senior year. Senior year carries this subconscious, constant feeling of bittersweet. Moving forward to March, one of my fellow teammates, my dear Samii, passed away. This is something I still struggle with, and something I will always struggle with, I think.

There are days where I come to school still expecting to see her in the hallway, or hear her speak. I still cannot believe the girl I would do my warmups with, who would always be one of the loudest people cheering for me, and the best singer I know, is gone.

Grief is such an interesting thing, where something that seems so simple like a song, color, or even a word can bring back so many memories, even memories you suppressed and forgot existed. This year has been one of the hardest years of my life, however I am blessed to have such a strong support system who was always there for me, and will continue to always be there for me.

Ultimately, no matter how many ups and downs this year has brought, I have met so many amazing people who have truly blessed me with their laughter and presence. I have made so many amazing memories and I have really tried so many new things and experiences. Of course I have to thank my friends, family, teachers, and the staff that keeps everything going. But above all of this, I have to thank God for steering and guiding me through the difficult times, without God I would be lost and without clarity.

Nobody is perfect. Even that person who walks around and carries themself as though they have everything figured out, spoiler alert: they don’t. Everybody struggles with something, and nobody has everything figured out. If you feel as though you are behind everyone, just know you are exactly where you need to be in that moment. Everybody goes down a different path, even if they are heading towards the same destination.

I challenge you to be uncomfortable. Do the things which scare you, talk to that person you want to talk to, take that class even if you’re scared you’ll struggle. May I remind you that struggle is where you actually grow. Challenge yourself to do things that seem impossible, and push yourself to be the best person you can be. Be involved in everything you can be involved in. Live without regrets, love without regrets. Never leave anything unsaid, as there will come a time when you will regret not saying something. Don’t be afraid of rejection, live freely. Stay true to yourself. These four years will pass inevitably, so you might as well make the most of it.

Always remember: you are loved more than you think, and you are capable of so much more than you think. You are your only limit.

-- Madison McGarvey