I spent last weekend either giggling because I was almost done with college applications or crying because I was so stressed out. Although it’s been about two months since I’ve had the title “senior,” I can say that I’ve experienced enough of high school to reflect and admit that Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) is probably one of the best things that have ever happened to me, even though I absolutely dread high school.

It’s November and the bittersweet feeling of being a quarter of the way through senior year is finally making me realize me that ­­wearing a cap and gown isn’t very far away. All of the seniors that told me freshmen year that “high school will fly by” were absolutely right. While I still have the next six months to utilize all of the many resources my school has to offer, I also know that I won’t be able to get my hands on after I graduate. However, there’s still time.

I dread high school at the same time, I love it. It is just such bad timing. High schoolers are so clumsy and so prone to making the same mistakes over and over again. It’s the awkward age where adults expect us to make smart decisions while treating us like kids. Getting 8 hours of sleep is hard when trying to maintain good grades, play a sport, be involved in extracurricular activities, and work. It’s a recipe for stress.

Nonetheless, I do call CRLS my second home. My teachers are like family. The late nights I spend doing homework (that probably won’t even be collected the next day) are spent with friends I couldn’t thank enough. The experiences and lessons I’ve learned, sounding as cliché as it does, make up who I am today. And within the next few months, I’m sure my high school experiences will make me an even stronger student, friend, and athlete. I just love it all. If I could start over, I wouldn’t, but it’s definitely an experience I’ll always remember.

If you are in high school, you still have time to make the most of it. Maybe you can join another club or go to the next musical auditions. Maybe you can buy tickets to the next school dance maybe you can eat lunch with your teacher for the rest of the semester. Whatever the case may be, please just give high school a chance because (coming from a senior) it does fly by and all the times we’ve said “oh, I’ll go next time” only makes the sand slip through the crack of the hourglass faster.

Besides, in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, right?

– Lamisa