Stranger Than Fiction

Dear Mom and Dad

2018-05-30T11:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you. Thank you for being there every step of the way for me. From Pre-K to 12th grade you guys were there for me every single day.

Mom: Thank you for pushing me every single day to be the best I can be in the classroom. You taught me how to study for tests (handwritten flashcards over everything) and you taught me discipline. Whenever I wanted to go socialize with people you would always make sure that all of my schoolwork was completed. I don't know how you were so persistent with it but you were and I commend you for that. Also, thank you for always giving me your best advice when I needed it whether it was school related or not. You are an amazing mother and I couldn't ask for anything more from you.

Dad: Thank you for being the opposite of mom in many ways. Although you did push me in school that was not really your calling card on a daily basis. I think we have watched 10,000 sports games together either on TV or in person and that is what I needed to balance out my schoolwork (and mom at times). I will miss sitting with you in the den every school night watching Boston Sports (mostly the Celtics) and getting yelled at by mom at around 9 each night that I need to turn the TV off and do my homework. Thank you for mentoring me in life, but more specifically sports. You taught me so much in between the lines that I can use outside the lines in the real world. Thank you for being an amazing father.

I cannot wait to make countless memories with you guys in our future, but I will miss spending every night from September to June at 32 Arrowhead Road. That is where we share our special bond, and I hope we can continue it in Middletown Connecticut and on Cape Cod for the next 4 years.

Love You Guys,
Noah Cate

Advice to Rising Seniors

2018-05-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Rising Seniors,

My advice to you guys is that it is you are only seniors in high school once so make it the best year of high school. School is still really important, so it would be in your best interests to work really hard for the entirety of the first semester.

First semester is where you really need to grind everything out. Hopefully over the summer you worked on college essays and the application so that your beginning of senior year is a little less stressful. Also, do not bury yourself by taking impossible classes because you will not be able to balance the college process and all of your APs. Grind this semester out and do whatever it takes so come second semester you have a lot less to worry about.

Second semester is where you have fun. It is your last semester of high school, which seems pretty crazy. You can let your grades drop down to B's but I would not go much further than that. This is where you can not study for tests (as much) and just enjoy your grade because the long ride is unfortunately coming to an end.

Work extremely hard first semester, and have fun second semester. That is what I did and I had a great senior year.

Change from elemantary to middle school

2018-05-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

When I was in elementary school I went to montessori school. There was no homework and no real work more discussions and couches and carpets. School back then was kind of a joke. I went to catholic school at St Brendans in Dorchester for a year and it was completely the opposite, a bunch of homework and class work desks very strict and I got in trouble every single day. Im not exaggerating every single day I was in the office for something, every single day. In 7th grade my mom put me back in a montessori school which was the weirdest place everyday and on the last day the said I could not return for the 8th grade year there. 8th grade opened a new chapter of my life with Weston. The social structure here was completely flipped to start. Kids who are considered cool here would be dweebs where Im from and what Ive grown up around. It was hard for me to fit in at first but I eventually started to figure out that I didn't really care about fitting in here. Weston is a very vigorous school system which is something I was very not used to. I took my first standardized tests, had real homework, real papers etc. It was a tough change but I got used to it a little, look where I am now, scrambling to finish work 2 days before graduation.

Favorite song 2012

2018-05-29T20:57:00.001-07:00

I loved a bunch of songs in 2012. Love Sosa by Chief Keef, Rack City by Tyga, Mercy by Kanye. These songs made me pumped and happy. Chief Keef continues to be one of my favorite rappers. I listened to these songs before hockey games and stuff like that. Me and my friends always loved rap and when Chief Keef introduced Drill and trap music in 2012, in was a game changer. It was all that we listened to. We loved the Chicago rap culture of drill music and trap. This genre of music is still what I listen to today and I actually bumped Love Sosa in my car earlier today. Music has been a big part of my life since 2012. I felt connected to the music in a less violent way. Today Ive expanded my playlist and I have 8 and a half hours worth of music in a playlist on my phone. Music has had a part in making many memories and having a good time. I love my music very loud and I think that is one thing that will never change about me, Im bumping on my computer right now. Music has been a big part of my life since 2012.

Friends

2018-05-29T20:21:00.001-07:00

In My experience at Weston High School I have learned that real friends are not a common thing. I have made many many friendships in high school that I will never forget, But at the same time I know that not all friendships Ive made will amount to anything after high school. You just know when you have a true friend, in Weston I cant say I have many at all and I could fit all my true friends from here on one hand. All of my brothers from Dorchester I will be brothers with for life. I dont know what it is but something is completely different here its like there is fake juice in the water. I'm not saying everyone is a bad person and is fake but most people here are not real. I have had a great time here and I will cherish my high school days forever but I stayed some what secluded and kept my circle very small. I think Ive dne well with that in high school and stayed away from unnecessary beef and drama. Keep your circle small because you never know who might switch up.

Peewee Football to senior Varsity Football

2018-05-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

When I was 10 years old I started my first season of football. I played for the Braintree Wampanoags, we were (9,0) we were unreal. I was a D end and running back which were my varsity positions in my senior year of high school. I loved making big hits so the coach loved me. That year of football was way too competitive for 10 year olds playing football, our coaches were hardos but I guess it worked because we were undefeated in the regular season and it was the coolest thing ever to play my favorite sport and be good. When Preseason for my last year of Varsity football started, it was a bittersweet feeling. Football has been my life since I was 10 years old and knowing that this was going to be my last season felt surreal to me. My last game I ever got to play before being ineligible for the Thanksgiving game, which was the worst feeling of my life, was our playoff game against some random nasty school. I made huge plays the whole game having no Idea it would be my last game. I had the longest run of the game, 3 sacks and a bunch of tackles. I am glad I was able to end on a note like that. It was so sad when I found out my season was over. I will miss football so much and maybe I will play football if I go to college after the Marines. Thats the only way that I will go to college after.

6th grade

2018-05-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

In 6th grade I went to St Brendan's in Dorchester. On the first day of school I got bullied for the first and last time in my life. On the second day of school we were playing tackle football in the yard and I was the quarterback, I threw a dime to my teammate Kyle when the bully blindsided me about a minute after I threw the ball and I got right up, laughed and said fight me right now, so we squared up. He threw a punch and I ducked it and hit him with the hardest right hook since 'nam. He fell and had a bloody nose and started crying. I got suspended on the second day of school. I never got bullied since then, ever in my life. I hate bullies. 6th grade as when me and most of my brothers from Dorchester really got close. I consider everyone one of those kids my brother and I wouldn't have these brothers if it weren't for 6th grade and if I never stood up for myself. Moral of the story is always stand up for yourself and never let anyone put you down. Maybe use your words and not hit someone like little Ronan though...

8th Grade DC trip

2018-05-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

The DC trip was so funny but I also found out a lot about myself. I used to be very impulsive and aggressive. I would never think through stupid decisions. For example, It was a bright and sunny day, we were at the Newseum and Some seniors from some Chicago school were chilling somewhere and me being who I am was sprinting around the newseum when some like 6'5 kid got in 8th grade 5'7 Ronan's face and said I broke his phone, little Ronan wasn't having it and pushed the kid, which is comedy, and I tried to fight him when my english teacher Ms, O'connell came out of no where off the top rope and tackled me along with three of my boys. I got in mad trouble and Mr. Brown had me and the kid talk and this huge kid was crying and saying I broke his phone, like what a weenie. After that, Mr. Brown pulled me aside and said he talked to the teachers who all thought I should be sent home except for himself and Ms. Oconnell. He told me he convinced them to let me stay and he wanted to talk to me about myself. He said I was very impulsive and had to work on that and I need to count to 3 before I make a decision. That really stuck with me. Always think before you act.

Sophomores

2018-05-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

One piece of advice that I would give to Sophomores would be that it’s time to step it up. Colleges don’t just look at your cumulative GPA, they look at the pattern of your grades throughout the years.

For example, just because you got a 4.0 freshman year does not mean you can slack off a bit next year and still be in good shape. If you got a 4.0 freshman year, make it at least a 4.1 the next year. They love seeing you doing better the closer you get to enrollment time. You may have a high gpa then someone else, but as a senior you see a lot of kids get into solid schools who didn’t do so hot freshman year.

Colleges will be much more forgiving about a C freshman year than at any other time. Sophomore year is also the time so start building your resume. Get into a couple clubs, maybe do a little community service. You don’t have to take over the world, but it’s nice to be able to fill out a good chuck on the Common App with that kind of stuff.

Advice for sophomores

2018-05-29T18:47:00.001-07:00

Sophomore year was my favorite and most fun year of my life but also probably the worst year of my life. I was in a bad place and doing terrible in school. My biggest advice I can give you is do NOT be like Ronan Barrett, I know I'm a legend but this life is a hard one to master, no one but me has what it takes to be this legendary and handsome. But keep doing you and figure out who you are, you aren't freshman anymore. Being a sophomore is awesome but get your work done, still don't act out like I always did, be quiet in class you don't always have to be the class clown or the cool kid, get it done and then chill. Good luck kids sophomore year is lit.

Pros and cons of Procrastination: The Ronan Barrett Story

2018-05-29T18:42:00.001-07:00

DONT PROCRASTINATE I GRADUATE IN 67 HOURS AND I HAVE 7 MORE BLOGS TO WRITE AFTER THIS ONE. IVE BEEN IN SENIOR SCHOOL FOR 3 WEEKS AND I COULD'VE BEEN DONE REALISTICALLY THE FIRST WEEK. I COULD'VE NOT EVEN HAD SENIOR SCHOOL. Alright listen, the names Ronan Barrett, worlds biggest procrastinator. I have only gotten through high school from end of the quarter scrambles, end of the year scrambles and right now senior school scrambles. I am a kid who has never been stressed in my whole life and that stress free life really bit me in the ass for lack of better words. I leave for bootcamp July 9th, my dream, but i cannot go until Ive graduated high school, If I had just done my work when it was supposed to be due I would have been at the beach all day with my boys, instead I was the only senior at school doing work all day. You can never even begin to understand how embarrassing that is. I am not embarrassed about anything but it is humiliating do not procrastinate, it is nothing but bad news and I really hope at least one kid reads this and it helps them change to not procrastinate, I think moon should show this to his classes as an example for blogs. This blog is good as hell. Don't procrastinate, I'd make this blog longer but i have a bunch more to do, never mind the math I still have to do... Damn.

advice to freshman

2018-05-29T18:28:00.001-07:00

Freshman... Don't be a dweeb and you'll be fine. Don't try and show off random stuff to upperclassman because we do not care. Oh and there is no reason to be mad scared of us in the hallway because we, A. aren't awake B. do not care at all C. don't wanna be there. Stop thinking you are so important and know that you are the little ones now and you have no clout. Some kid this year gave himself the nickname "The Sh*t" I hate that freshman more than anyone such a dweeb loser you'll see him next year just think the kid with big hair and the only kid who is enough of a douche to call himself "The Shit". Anyway, don't be afraid to go hard in sports and try to take kids spots if you are good. Just remember that seniors legit could not care less about you. Oh and stop sitting in the senior section and stop being loud.

Advice to Juniors

2018-05-29T15:37:00.004-07:00

Juniors need to listen to them selves when I say this I know that first sentence doesn’t make sense but I’m already speaking so I might as well just keep it going you Junior suck. I hate all of you except for a select few. You guys have a lot to learn if you wanted to have fun in high school none of you are going to have a fun time if you continue to be douche bags the way you are. You guys need to stop feeling entitled to everything. There’s a lot of things you guys need to learn like how to kiss teachers asked for example I kiss moons ass all the time both physically and metaphorically. He told me it is the only way that I can pass his class. Long story short you guys just need to get it together as a grade stop being legit idiots and being nice to people because I know you guys none of you are cool in real life and you guys are going to try and Hayes the freshman when in reality they’re probably cooler than you and less they need a safe space in which case they’re not cooler than you. Actually they might still be cooler than you.

Letter to Mom and Dad

2018-05-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Mom dad I’m sorry about the way I’ve been throughout high school. I’ve been a wild Willy these past four years and I just like to say that it’s finally about to come to an end. Hopefully. I’m having a good time making decisions on my own as an adult and I am proud to be joining the United States Marine Corps the choices I’ve made in my life have really come from how I’ve been raised and I want to thank you for that. I know I am always been a crazy lad but I for one think that it’s been a great experience for everyone. Now I know what you might be thinking and that that’s 300 words is a lot of words but if you count to ten it makes it a lot better one two three four five six seven eight nine ten. I got my work ethic from geniuses like you and I just banged out 10 words easily. I’ve had a very fun time living with you mom. From the time I could speak I’ve been saying funny things and being very handsome and I just want to thank you for that.

20 Years Later...

2018-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

It’s June 1, 2038 and I am so excited to see my high school friends. Having relied on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and the current social media to keep me updated on the whereabouts of my fellow 2018 classmates, I have remained in the know. Otherwise, I have only kept in touch with a handful of friends. Mary is still one of my best friends, and the few others that I talk to have popped up in my life more recently. Let me tell you, it is a small world.

Mary is the godmother of my kids, so whoever I get the chance, I make the extra effort to visit her in California. Even so, being back in Weston with her is a different kind of excitement.

After all these years, our old stomping grounds bring up thoughts and feelings that have been packed away in the back of our minds. Already feeling nostalgic, tonight I expect that Mary and I will make a point to go to field one, which I can only hope is known as Ash Baird field. We will sit in the middle of the center circle and reminisce, feel the cool dusk air, sit under the stars or kick a ball around.

The town has stayed mostly the same. The high school my mom, my uncles and then I went to is still standing (though barely), and the town center still lacks notable restaurants or any form of entertainment. However, in my eyes, I see excitement and childhood possibility all around. I see myself playing kinder-kicks on the recreation center field, my mom coaching on the grass behind the brooks school, the middle school where I made my best friends, and the entrance to Whitehouse lane, a place I spent nearly as much time as my own home since the moment I could drive. Consumed by these memories, I am taken even further back into my childhood. Having my children with me opens my eyes to their perspective of my own home, which I come to recognize as similar to my own at their age.

I feel so lucky to be able to return to a place with so much joy, and I place I can see in myself even to this day…

Dear Mom and Dad

2018-05-25T11:37:00.001-07:00

Dear Mom and Dad,

As those who raised me through happy and hard times, you have taught me strength, instilled in me compassion, reinforced my patience and made me laugh through it all.

Mom - You have been with me every step of the way. As one of my best friends, and the best mother I could ever ask for, I cannot begin to thank you enough for your support and unconditional love. I will miss you so much in college next year, but I know that you have raised me to be a strong and capable. From my earliest memories I can still feel your relaxed influence and present mindset. This quote reminds me of this and you: “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time” - John Lubbock

Dad - As you know, I call you “Dave” because you are my friend. I want to thank you for always given me the freedom to grow and make mistakes. I learned so much because of those opportunities, and so much your putting my mistakes into perspective… without fail, you were there (and i’m sure always will be there) to poke fun at me when I fall. Thank you for being an amazing father and role model. I owe so much of who I am to you. You are my good conscience.

To you both, my thanks can’t describe how grateful I am to you for the daily sacrifices you make to ensure my happiness and safety. For what I mentioned and SO MUCH MORE, I am forever indebted to you… and because I have little funds to provide, I hope my unconditional love is enough.

With love,

Maddie Perko

P.S. the picture below is one that sparks the story an early childhood trauma dave exposed me to. I vividly remember how you called my name with misleading and cruel enthusiasm, pleading for me to bring a camera and hurry outside. Seeing our cat Kizmet chasing that baby bunny in circles, as it wailed, was truly scarring. However… I look back fondly on your reaction. “Maddie, come on” you laughed, throwing your head back and your hands up. “It's the circle of life”…

Dear Seniors: Don't Wait, Make it Great

2018-05-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Seniors,

In my last post I wrote about junior year and the infamous stress that year in notorious for. I write with mixed news…

A significant portion of my grade, Class of 2018, confessed to being more stressed senior year (fall, winter, early spring) than they were junior year. I write this, again, not to scare you. There will be stressful decisions no doubt, but by no means do they need to send you spiraling. So similarly, I give you likewise advice: get perspective and chill out.

Moving on from that…

Senior year is supposed to be the peak of your high school career. But don’t sit around waiting to be wowed. I think some people in my grade waited for things to happen to them that prove that this is the pinnacle, instead of making things happen. Don’t make that mistake. Just like in anything else in life, YOU have to make senior year what you want it to be. That means that as an individual it is your responsibility to do your part by motivating yourself and by motivating a group to enjoy it with (whether that group be be your grade or just your friends).

Best,

Maddie Perko

Why Cry When You Can Smile

2018-05-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Historically, I have not handled stress in a healthy way. I obsessed over work, then I obsessed over the stress my work caused, and eventually, I let both of those things control me and take over my life. I have been helped immensely by so many, teachers, counselors, by parents etc., but the person who completely changed my perspective and gave me something to work towards, some thing to aspire to, lived like she knew her life was going to be cut short. I wrote this about Ash for the yearbook. She has been my role model since I met her, and I plan to live my life with her guidance.

“Ash Baird has been an inspiration to the Weston Community starting long before her cancer diagnosis. Ash had a contagious smile and an easy-going, passionate way of living that inspired so many. Through her uplifting attitude and life perspective she motivated everyone she met to find a happiness within themselves to match the happiness she so powerfully exuded. Ash shone on the soccer field and had an effervescent personality no-one could ignore. She shared with so many her unique gift for stripping life’s complications from sight, only to leave behind the wonder of each and every moment. During her time in Weston, Ash was relentlessly praised for her superior athleticism, but those who knew her will remember her even more for her inspiring leadership, kindness, brazen authenticity and extraordinary friendship.

Thank you, Ash. We love you.”

It is because of Ash that I know better than I did before. Ash never wavered in showing everyone she met how to LIVE. Even when it was clear her days were numbered, she maintained her optimism and persistence, love and even joy. More people need to have an Ash in their life to show them the way. I can never be Ash, nor should I be. But I certainly can take a page from her book, learn from her, and spread her love, and with that, make happiness for myself and others, no matter to situation.

Dear Juniors: Don't Worry, Be Happy

2018-05-24T11:42:00.002-07:00

Dear Juniors,

Unfortunately, I am confident that you have heard all out how “junior year is soooo stressful”. I bet your teachers have warned you countless times, your parents reinforced that in you with their constant nagging, and your friends scared you with that phrase and ensuing rant. Not only will you hear this line repeatedly as your junior year approaches, but it will continue to ring in your ear for the rest of the year… And let me tell you, hearing it over and over only makes your stress it worse.

So, take a breath! And here is some advice.

First, I am going to quickly list off things NOT to do…

Don’t surround yourself with people who constantly complain. It will elevate your stress levels and distract you from having a positive and balanced perspective.
Don’t obsess. I know, I know, easier said than done. However, try to make time for yourself every day, even if it is only a 20-30 minute window. You deserve to have fun and relax. If you don’t finish your homework… you are not going to die. So relax and don’t be dramatic.
Don’t think college is everything. It’s not. I wish I could shoot a perspective gun and plant that idea in your brain, but such technology is not yet available.

Now… on to happier things.

Go out with friends. This is important in the obtaining of perspective. Remember your life is now. It isn’t tomorrow, yesterday, after you get into college, after you get to college or anytime in the future or past. You are living in this moment only. It is good to prepare a good future, but there are no guarantees, and you live now… so don’t screw that up.
Make a list of fun things to do so that you stay inspired and happy.

I’m not going to lie to you and say that junior year is a breeze, but your perspective is everything. So get some of that.

Live with no regrets. Not because you do everything perfectly, but because you know you did your best, you are doing your best, you are learning and trying to be ever better and happier.

Best,

Maddie

To summarize: Don’t worry, be happy.

Sophomores and Stress

2018-05-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Sophomores,

Congratulations, you are no longer freshman. You will soon see the growth of your class as the next batch of freshman arrive. Now it is time to accept your new role as the irrelevant grade! I’m mostly just kidding.

Freshman year can be a shock to a lot of people. Obviously, there is a lot to get used to. But now, as Sophomores, there are no more excuses. You know your way around the building, you know what the workload is like and you have most likely become apart of the high school community in some way, whether through sports, music, academic teams etc.. You may even feel kinship with upperclassmen over you distaste for the incoming grade.

Note: that opinion may be popular, but be careful when expressing these feelings. We were all freshman at one time, so be kind. But also, YOU are not far from being a freshman yourself and you are still an underclassman, so don’t get ahead of yourself…

In hindsight, I did not embrace sophomore year. I was consumed with stress and I didn’t have a good perspective on what was important and worth my time.

My advice to you sophomores is to embrace the fact that there is nothing major that happens sophomore year. Freshman are new and have to learn the ropes, juniors are worried about college and grades, and seniors are at the top of the social hierarchy and are either college obsessed or checked out mentally. Sophomores have NOTHING! CONGRATULATIONS. Enjoy it.

But don’t take for this for granted. Instead, take the opportunity to learn how to live, because, not to stress you out, but life only gets busier and more stressful. So, be sure to learn how to cope with stress now.

Since sophomore year I have had to relearn how I manage my work, my health and my happiness. Yes, grades are important (to some of you more than others), but now is the best time to try out new methods and ways of doing things. Once you find out what works best for you, your grades may actually go up (and with your quality of life).

And finally, though I obviously know of the challenges, try to connect with upperclassmen. Having perspective is so important, regardless of where you are in life.

Best,

Maddie Perko

Positives to Procrastinating

2018-05-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

The second post is your standard 300 word post with three images in which you address ONE of the following topics in the manner of your choice (school appropriate): First/Last time playing your favorite sport, the benefits/dangers of procrastination, OR how to deal with Stress/competition.

Procrastination does not have to be bad!

You have probably heard this proclamation from your less studious friend as they persuade you to go out during your free instead of studying. But I am here to tell you that they MIGHT have a point. Seriously...

1) Personally, I do some of my best work when I am procrastinating. To give a few examples… I check off more things on my to do list, I spend more much deserved time with my dog, and I work more diligently and include more detail on other assignments.

2) Not only that, but procrastination gives you time to ruminate and unconsciously think over your assignment. Yes, unconscious thinking. Some of you may be rolling your eyes or shaking your head, and thats fine. I get it. The idea of taking a break to allow “unconscious thinking” sounds like the excuse of a little kid. On the other hand, others of you might be on the edge of your seat, eager to have your methods validated. I was first told about unconscious thinking/processing by my freshman year geometry teacher, Mrs. Hamavid. She told me that the brain actively works on processing information for hours after a stimulus has been presented. Basically, that means that your brain is problem solving as you go to dairy joy with your friends. So, great! Im sure there are still skeptics reading this, and in hindsight, Mrs. Hamavid might have just wanted us to read the directions for our homework and projects ahead of time so we could allocate appropriate time to do them, but either way, whether there is merit to what she preached or not, I think we can all admit that it is at leas good to read your homework ahead of time.

3) Procrastinating in itself is satisfying. Whatever you do during this sacred denial period is inherently good, whether it be cleaning out your car, slumped on the couch watching the same episode of The Office, or even doing a less then awful homework assignment. I’m telling you, productive procrastination is underrated and should be advertised. Imagine this, you actually feeling joy doing things you have to do just because it means you aren’t doing a certain assignment… Sounds nearly ideal. AND, if that isn’t great enough, you don’t feel nearly as guilty when you start your homework late. After all, you were still productive.

For readers who are familiar and comfortable with procrastination, I hope this validates your practices and maybe even, dare I say, gives your procrastination some direction.

For readers who have been previously uncomfortable procrastination, I hope this opens your eyes to other ways to structure your day, live with less stress and more perceived freedom.

For readers who think my argument is all crap… a good day to you and get off my blog.

To all, everything in moderation!

Grade 7-8: my new friend

2018-05-21T11:20:00.003-07:00

I met Ash in my seventh grade history class. The first time I heard her speak took place when our teacher asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. I couldn’t tell you for sure what I said, maybe a doctor or an interior designer, but I know with 100 percent certainty what Ash said. She proclaimed it loud and proud to the class, with more conviction than I would come to hear her speak with for many more months; she wanted to become a professional soccer player. At this point, I had never seen Ash play, so in my mind I brushed it off as a child’s dream. Maybe she didn't understand the question… it was supposed to be realistic.

For some context, I met Ash during a rough chapter in my life. I had been concussed for nearly 6 months and there was no end in sight. Admittedly, I was depressed. I could not keep up with my school work, I was too impaired to maintain strong friendships, and had no energy or mental stamina to engage in much of anything. But with Ash, I gravitated to her. She was quiet, and for the time being, so was I. Both of us seemed a little lost and overwhelmed. Maybe it was just me, but I felt a level of security and validation knowing that I wasn’t alone.

It was not long until news spread of Ash’s extraordinary talent on the soccer field. I had little do to in those days other than rest, so on a sunny afternoon I walked up to the practice fields with my friend Mary, so curious to see if Ash was in fact so special she could one day go pro.

When we got to the field, I was struck by her presence. She had transformed. My intention was to check out her skill, and though I did, what I was most in awe of was her smile. From that moment, I knew I was missing what she had. As I said before, I was very depressed. The once happy, bubbly, positive girl I used to be now felt distant and unfamiliar to me. Everything seemed tainted by sadness, and I actually was starting to feel as though my new perspective was a reality the happy me had been missing before, as if happiness was some form of delusion. But when I got to those fields, I saw in Ash what I was missing. She exuded a genuine and profound joy that even in my darkest state I found contagious. And that’s when I knew Ash was someone really special.

That is the story of how I met one of my best friends in Middle School.

Photo memories

2018-05-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Parents

2018-05-09T18:56:00.001-07:00

Dear Mom and Dad, Thank you so much for giving me the tools to become the person am I today. Although some of your parenting strategies may have really bothered me at the time, seeing many kids struggle with things I learned early on made me feel much better about it. Making me schedule my own stuff at 12, and writing those emails to grown men was definetly frightening at first, but it tought me responsibility, how to communicate, and many other lessons that are not easily learned.

Not gunna lie, not many parents gave their kids as much freedom as I have been given. Yes, I proabaly earned that from you guys early on, but still I have done pretty much whatever for the last couple years and this has allowed me to mature in a way that was natural without as much risk. You also funded everything I could possibly need, and my thanks for this cannot be overestimated.

Your guidence was crucial and I will need your experiences to help guide my future and help me make the best decisions. Thanks for everything. Love, Nick

Rising Senior

2018-05-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

To all of the rising seniors out there, there are a few things I would like to warm you about which I saw happen to tons of kids including myself. One of them is don't do anything stupid like getting arrested. Seems simple enough, but not everyone can manage to get that right.

Also, try not to blow your grades that badley. This applies more second semester, but if tye go down that not really something that you want to have to explain, and it can also hurt your chances of transfering if you so choose to. There are also some internships that will ask for your transcript and that could also be an uncomfortable conversation.

All this being said, enjoy your time as a senior. Skip a class, don't do a homework, whatever you think is rebellious go for it. Some people will do this more than others but either way it'll make your final days as a High School student way more enjoyable.