Looking back on my high school experience, I’ve found that it was the little things that pulled me through. When the homework piled up, and bedtime stretched past midnight, late night chatting on AIM became less of a distraction and more of an asset, though I’m sure my mother would disagree. Late night silliness kept me alive on those nights. Having friends to bounce ideas off of or to talk through the main points of a unit was comforting and relieving.

When I  think of my favorite moments in high school, I think of sharing the contents of one or two of the five Tupperware containers I bring for lunch with my friends. Or I think of knocking over several desks to race a friend for the last seat in the classroom before the Biology final, or singing during soccer practice. That’s not to say that the big achievements of high school have no significance. Saving my math grade after a disappointing second marking period (averaging 2 episodes per day of Lost Seasons 1 and 2 is a bad idea) by studying harder than ever for the final was one of the most gratifying moments of high school (I danced). Winning the 4 by 400 meter relay for our only win of the track season erased the sometimes unbearable pain of running. All grades, achievements, and goals, are important. But what I’m trying to say is that I’ve learned that the most important thing is balance.

It was always hard for me to be a student and an athlete. But I can truly say that my classmates at East created the best possible environment for me to balance the two aspects of my life. The talent that surrounded me and the friendships I made challenged me to be better in a non-competitive manner. I think that’s rare.

As we approach the end of high school, I know that I made mistakes, and that I’ll make more. But I also know that I have learned a few things on the way and I conclude with this: Challenged yourself, because at the end of the day, only you can know what you worked for, what you deserve. But don’t forget to take notice of who and what makes you happy.