Looking back When I first walked through the doors of Brunswick High School four years ago, I saw an open door to multiple opportunities. I remember everyone telling me how this would be the best four years of my life. Since that day a lot has changed. My surroundings have changed, my image has changed, my friends have changed, and my knowledge has advanced. From the beginning of high school I have met some very important people. In class on my first day of school I remember I met numerous people and I could not even match names with faces on the second day. I remember most of all how welcoming everyone was and how warm hearted and kind the teachers were. Of course now as a senior, four years later I pass the faces of people that were once close friends that have now become strangers and I pass teachers I used to adore and look the other direction. It is a sad thing to think about but life goes on. In my opinion, high school prepares students for the real world. It doesn’t just give us knowledge on mathematics and how to translate shakespeare. It teaches us the ins and outs, and the ups and downs of life. You meet real people, ones that would cross an ocean for you, and the ones that wouldn’t cross a puddle. You meet yourself, you learn who you are, who you want to be, and what you want to accomplish. You make mistakes while there is still room for improvement. You find parts of education interesting that you thought you would never care about. You watch the people around you succeed and at the same time you watch others fail. You are surrounded by people that make good choices and others that make bad choices. In these moments you learn which direction you are going to take. For me I have learned to take things day by day, and week by week. I learned to not let the little things like, getting a F on a test or a fight with a friend, get the best of me. Most of all I have learned to put my happiness before others because in the end it is me and only me against the world. I feel blessed to have gotten the opportunity to learn from such wonderful teachers. I am not saying they were all angels, but I have gained something so important when walking out of each and every one of those classes. Everyday I hear people talking about how pointless high school is. While you are sitting in class listening to your teacher talk about what you feel is pointless information, look at the bigger picture. I have learned so much more than E=Mc^2 and the in depth details about government branches. Starting freshman year I dealt with things I’d never imagine I’d encounter. I surrounded myself with new faces, good and bad. Thankfully I had Mrs. Weight, a wonderful language arts teacher who kept things bright on the darkest days. She had once said “A glimpse from our past can help us move ahead in the future.” Every wise word she’s spoken has stuck with me through these past four years. We had to read a book titled Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradburry, Mrs. Weights favorite author, and I will tell you when she handed us this book I wanted to throw it at her for making us read it. But, by the end of the novel it wasn’t as horrible as I’d imagine. She ended our year together with the heart felt words, “I hope that when the dandelions begin to grow and spread in your yard and fields surrounding your homes, you will love and remember that with each dandelion is a memory to be shared, respected and loved.” On that last day of school I don’t think I have ever cried that harder in anyones arms. That leads me to my sophomore and junior year I got to spend my wonderful days at Brunswick High School with the crazy Mrs. Lopano. I had been through some horrible things that I couldn’t talk about with my parents. Thankfully she was there by my side everyday. She gave me hope for the future and gave me the love someone would only share with a daughter. And believe me when I say I needed love through those rough days. Also I can’t forget about Mr. Hottensmith always cracking jokes that no one laughed at but me and throwing out brain teasers at eight am when everyones still half asleep. He made the days go by faster. He might not be the most entertaining teacher in the morning but he has one of the biggest hearts and I couldn't respect him more for it. The past three years, even when I didn’t have a course with him I’d visit just to add positivity to my day. Now looking back at these four years I see all the battles that I have been through and I am more than thankful for the teachers, friends, and family that have gotten me to where I am today. I hope that with all the lessons I have learned, my future will be as bright as the sun. I know my parents have well prepared me for what is to come. I have learned proper social skills and I gained everyday knowledge straight from their heads to mine. Every action I take can only prepare me for my future. In five years from now when I will be either finishing up college or already done, I want to look back on all the things I have accomplished and be proud of myself. Most importantly I want others to be proud of me. I want my parents to have the chance to brag to their friends about how far I have come and how proud they are of me. I only want the best for myself and all the fellow friends and family around me. If I do one thing wrong in life it will be surrounding myself with the wrong people. I always tell myself if I surround myself with good people with good intentions only good will come my way. With all that being said my advice goes out to everyone going through hard times. When you don't think you can go anymore you have to dig deep down inside of you and find that little ounce of hope to keep pushing through. One of my favorite quotes that my best friend once told me is “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it is going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming.” You can never see into the future so with hope of something great to come, you can accomplish anything. Something my parents always tell me besides “Clean up your room” is “Enjoy what you have and work hard to make your life better. The most successful people have hit rock bottom and look at them now.” Every time I don't want to study for a test or every time I don't want to go to work I tell myself that. Giving up on yourself will never be worth it. You will rarely give up on something beneficial to your life and have things turn out for the better. My family keeps me going and pushes me to my limit every single day. Like Walt Disney once said “The most important thing is family.”