The moment we all have been waiting for has finally come. We’re finally graduating. Crazy how fast that came. Still feels like not so long ago when I was just a few months away from promoting 8th grade. My 8th grade year was cut short. When I realized I would never be going back to that school, I decided I would try to make my high school years count.

The start of my high school year is not how I ever imagined. I always imagined something big and fun like High School Musical. Silly to think I actually believed that. High school is hard but only if you make it hard. I never really cared for school and wouldn’t care about my grades. My sisters tried pushing me to be the best, but I just always ignored them. All they wanted to do was help and the best for me.

If I could go back in time, I would listen to them and care about my grades. Being a senior and being behind credits is so stressful. I could not count how many times I thought I wasn’t going to graduate. That’s not a good feeling, luckily “me puse las pilas.” Completed my credits and now we’re graduating. I hope my family is proud of me when they hear VALERIA CARRILLO VILCHIS over the loudspeakers and see me walking on the stage.

As for now, any advice I could give to those reading this is to make the best of high school. It goes by faster than you know it. I’ll forever cherish all the lovely memories I made here. Walking around the halls, meeting new people, the rallies, football games, and most importantly attending the same school as my cousin. High school only happens once in your life, experience everything you can. As for me, I’m onto the next step. Goodbye West High.