I have always found comfort in conversation, but it wasn’t until high school that I realized the power that conversation truly has. Over the past four years, I have taken pride in being involved, constantly striving for the next role and trying to put the best version of myself out into the world. Because of that, I had the privilege of getting to know students from seven different graduating classes, learning from teachers both inside and outside the classroom and discovering the staff members behind the scenes who are always willing to help.

I find discomfort in doing nothing, so my mind is constantly asking: How can I help? How can I be better? How can I make an impact? There were days when I arrived at school at 7:15 in the morning for a Student Council meeting and did not leave until after a soccer game that night. I packed my schedule with practices, events, meetings and activities, and there were times when I felt exhausted. But somehow, it was always worth it because of the people surrounding me.

My teammates became some of my closest friends. Clubs introduced me to students I never would have met otherwise. Even classes became more meaningful because of the people sitting around me. I realized that the moments I looked forward to most were never just about the activity itself; they were about the conversations and connections that came with it.

When I think about my high school experience, I think about collaborating with students during morning meetings, seeing Mrs. Egizi and Mrs. Buescher when I do the morning announcements, walking through the halls with my friends, talking during class, saying hi to the lunch ladies when I buy a cookie and laughing with my teammates at practice. Those are the moments that made even stressful days feel important.

During one lunch towards the end of the year, The Harbinger interviewed my lunch table, asking what we would miss most about high school, and every single person answered with some version of “the people.” That answer stuck with me because it’s true. High school is remembered less for the assignments and deadlines and more for the people who made those four years meaningful.

As I leave Algonquin, my advice is simple: talk to everyone. Say hi in the hallway. Join the club. Stay after school. Make connections with people you normally wouldn’t. At the end of the day, the relationships you build and the memories you create with others are what make high school worth remembering.