June 20, 2021
After living in Lyndhurst my whole life, when it was time to go to high school, I decided I wanted a change. I took one of the scariest and biggest risks of my life by leaving all my friends and attending a private high school where I knew no one.
During my freshman year at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, I made so many memories and created friendships that remain to this day. Although everything seemed to have been going perfectly during my freshman year, something felt off and I knew I needed to come back to Lyndhurst. Making the decision to transfer back was not easy, but it was definitely worth it.
When I arrived at LHS for the first day of my sophomore year, I was nervous yet excited to start a new chapter in my life. While sitting in the Student Services office early that morning, I was handed my schedule and saw journalism as the first class of the day. Although I was good at writing and it came easily to me, I was skeptical because I thought journalism would be a boring elective.
Three years later, I am proud to say that 15-year-old me was very wrong. The Lighthouse has not only given me the opportunity to win state awards, it has also taught me many life lessons that I will apply in all of my future endeavors. Working my way up from staff writer to editor to managing editor, I have been amazed not only at my determination but the program as a whole.
All my life, I have been a diligent student who strives for academic success and does not accept anything less than my personal best. I take pride in the student and person I have become and hope to continue my success at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York where I will be studying in the fall. I will be majoring in criminal justice with a double minor in psychology and political science with hopes of attending law school.
The Lighthouse has not only given me the opportunity to win state awards, it has also taught me many life lessons that I will apply in all of my future endeavors.
In addition to being a full time student, I will also be playing Division II softball. Playing softball in college has always been a dream of mine, and it feels amazing to know that all my hard work has paid off. I am forever grateful for the teammates and coaches I’ve had through the years. They have believed in me and helped me get to this point. This softball season, I have created such a strong bond with all of my teammates that I will cherish forever, and I will miss being on the field with them.
Finally, I want to thank adviser Ms. Pastor for instilling in me the courage and confidence to excel in journalism and The Lighthouse program. I also want to thank my family and friends for being the best support system throughout high school and for always being there when I needed them. It was a quick four years, and I am sad to leave, but I am excited to see what the future holds.
