Dear Hart,
I can’t decide if I was a stubborn freshman that couldn’t accept high school would fly by, or if it did despite my acceptance. It was too long ago for me to remember (which is such a crazy thing to admit). But time doesn’t really care about you. It moves forward whether or not you want it, so I’ll go with the latter option.
I’d like to think I accomplished most of my goals. Maybe even accomplished some feats I didn’t think I would’ve. Even so, I wouldn’t really be a graduating senior without a few regrets.
I wish I’d joined clubs and gotten more involved sooner, I wish I’d lived in the moment more, I wish I’d taken maybe two more AP classes. You know, the usual stuff. But there’s a reason it’s basic and every year seniors repeat it — stubborn freshmen don’t believe it until it’s too late, and so the cycle repeats.
Break the cycle, and, shocker, listen to your elders!
The thing is, I think to have regrets is to confirm that you changed throughout the years. If I’d started high school as the same person I am today, I would’ve done everything the way senior year Ariella does things. And I wouldn’t regret a single thing, but I wouldn’t have grown as an individual.
So to freshman, sophomore and junior Ariella — thanks for screwing up. We’re here now, finally. I’m proud of us. And thank you, Hart, for giving me the space to develop these past four years, whether it was online or in person.
Fondly,
Ariella
