The Finale
I want to start this post with 3 quotes that rang very true for my time in high school, and I hope they can either inspire or help somebody else to understand their experience.
1. "Anyone can carry his burden, however heavy, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, until the sun goes down. And this is all that life really means." - Robert Louis Stevenson
2. "If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?" - T.S. Eliot
3. "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." - Horace Mann
The jumping point for this blog is "It was". Looking back on my high school experience, I have started to understand what life means and to an extent, how it works. I've made friendships that I value more than anything, I've had experiences that couldn't be replicated any other time in my life, and I've loved and hated nothing more in my life. I'm also starting to realize it was an amazing ride. I came into Millbrook a totally different person than I'm leaving it. I also hope Millbrook is a different place, and that I had left my mark on it just as much as it had marked me. I enjoyed the coming of age that took place in this school, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I look back and I see that there were so many nights and early mornings, especially in junior and senior year (thanks IB), that were the cause of stress and displeasure and frustration. In those moments I wanted to get out and run so far away that I'd never have to see that motherhugging bronze wildcat another day. But as the days creep closer to my graduation I miss my school already. I'll miss the days of Friday night football. I'll miss the days of FFA trips with people as close as family. I'll miss the camaraderie under fire of IB. I'll miss the irresponsible warm weekend evenings of driving too fast with the windows down and the music up and my car so full of people that I'd be arrested if pulled over. All of these things already start to cause some nostalgia stirred in me of the days not yet gone.
The challenge given to us as both Millbrook students as well as IB graduates is to go and represent my school the best I can to such an extent that not only will I be able to look back on my days there with content, but that I will go out into the world proud to be a Millbrook son. I also hope that Millbrook will be able to look fondly on me. Millbrook challenged me in so many ways I didn't know possible and taught me to handle stress and new situations better. I can't imagine my life without this school and these experiences. I also don't think I would have had this stress and punishment any other way.
God bless you Millbrook highschool, it's been a good 4 years. Speak of me fondly when I'm gone and I'll do the same.
1. "Anyone can carry his burden, however heavy, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, until the sun goes down. And this is all that life really means." - Robert Louis Stevenson
2. "If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?" - T.S. Eliot
3. "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." - Horace Mann
The jumping point for this blog is "It was". Looking back on my high school experience, I have started to understand what life means and to an extent, how it works. I've made friendships that I value more than anything, I've had experiences that couldn't be replicated any other time in my life, and I've loved and hated nothing more in my life. I'm also starting to realize it was an amazing ride. I came into Millbrook a totally different person than I'm leaving it. I also hope Millbrook is a different place, and that I had left my mark on it just as much as it had marked me. I enjoyed the coming of age that took place in this school, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I look back and I see that there were so many nights and early mornings, especially in junior and senior year (thanks IB), that were the cause of stress and displeasure and frustration. In those moments I wanted to get out and run so far away that I'd never have to see that motherhugging bronze wildcat another day. But as the days creep closer to my graduation I miss my school already. I'll miss the days of Friday night football. I'll miss the days of FFA trips with people as close as family. I'll miss the camaraderie under fire of IB. I'll miss the irresponsible warm weekend evenings of driving too fast with the windows down and the music up and my car so full of people that I'd be arrested if pulled over. All of these things already start to cause some nostalgia stirred in me of the days not yet gone.
The challenge given to us as both Millbrook students as well as IB graduates is to go and represent my school the best I can to such an extent that not only will I be able to look back on my days there with content, but that I will go out into the world proud to be a Millbrook son. I also hope that Millbrook will be able to look fondly on me. Millbrook challenged me in so many ways I didn't know possible and taught me to handle stress and new situations better. I can't imagine my life without this school and these experiences. I also don't think I would have had this stress and punishment any other way.
God bless you Millbrook highschool, it's been a good 4 years. Speak of me fondly when I'm gone and I'll do the same.
Michael-
ReplyDeleteYou have described this school in such a way that I 100% relate to. I am proud to admit that I actually started to tear up while reading this (and writing this freaking comment!) You and I have both changed so much throughout our time at Millbrook and I know that we have the people here and the teachers to thank for that!
"Driving too fast...pulled over" That definitely does not have to end with graduation! I'll be down to do that every summer night if you'll let me!
Thank you for coming into my life, I am proud to call you one of my best friends!
First of all, congrats on being inducted into the Service Club!
ReplyDeleteI also see how the challenges of high school have shaped me and hopefully prepared me for the next step in life. Good luck in college!!
Hey Palko! I really loved this post. So much of what you wrote was relatable and powerful and it really just spoke to me. I know I'm going to miss all of this too, and I know I'm definitely gonna miss seeing you. There are few people that I can say this about, but I do think you're one of the best people I've ever met. Thanks for the memories Palko!
ReplyDelete