June 3, 2025
I remember exactly how I felt the first time I walked into LHS. The pandemic was finally letting up, and I tasted my first bits of freedom. I felt invincible, like my whole life had led me to this moment. I was so invested in the experience that the fact that it would end in four short years never occurred to me.
Some days were a slog, but as I look back on high school, I feel satisfied. My time here has made me more emotionally intelligent, knowledgeable and open-minded.
I’m forever grateful to my parents for allowing me to make my own decisions while holding me responsible for my actions and choices. This has prepared me for adulthood.
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self to take academics more seriously during my freshman and sophomore years. I did not push myself enough, and now I understand I had the potential to do so much better.
Some days were a slog, but as I look back on high school, I feel satisfied.
I won’t make the same mistake as I enter the next phase of my education at Montclair State University, where I will major in psychology to become a therapist. I intend to pursue this career because mental health is a common struggle among teenagers. Through the years, I’ve been exposed to this, which has motivated me to learn more about why people respond to adversity the way they do.
I especially hope to help young people struggling with their mental health who don’t know how to handle such challenges. I want to give them the support they need and encourage them to pay it forward by helping others.
Graduation isn’t just the end of high school. It’s the start of a new adventure. As I look ahead, I find myself filled with the same optimism I had when I started as an LHS student. I’m excited for the upcoming journey and all the learning to come.
