Graduation

We actually got through high school.

I still can’t decide whether this has all taken forever or just went by super fast. To be honest, it’s kind of both.

There’s a stipulation that once you go to high school, everything grows bigger. Class sizes, number of students and the campus compared to our middle schools. They all supposedly balloon.

But, as I stand here ready to graduate, I feel that, for better or worse, everything actually got a little smaller, except me. Luckily I grew past the 5 feet I was as a Freshman.

Thanks to construction, the school physically got smaller. Class sizes never seemed that big and, slowly, everyone’s friend groups shrunk as the years went on. It’s a bit sad, but it’s natural.

A huge takeaway from my time here was that we were allowed to mess up without severe consequences. Sure, beg your mom to call you in sick when there was a test you weren’t ready for, take the elevator when you’re tired, go to Brooklyn Water Bagel during a joke class.

But the beauty of this place is that we can still get in trouble and come out with a tangible lesson learned, knowing that stuff won’t fly as we become adults. To me, that is way more valuable than any math or history lesson. Sure, I still wish this place would teach me how to do taxes, but you can’t have everything in life.

It’s a massive cliche probably being said at every middle school, high school and preschool graduation right now that “this may seem like the end, but it’s really just the beginning.” Well, that’s a line for someone who probably digs participation trophies.

This is the end. We’re never all going to be together in the same place ever again. Sure, in 10 years, the reunion will be fun, but not everyone will be there. This is the last time we can act like the kids that we are and not face the music. This is the last time we’ll ever be students at Beverly Hills High School. In less than an hour, we’ll be alumni. This is the last time we can ever log onto Jupiter Grades as students, though who here has been on that in the past month? For us basketball players, this is our last year of BHBL eligibility.

Sure, we all have such bright futures and will start fantastic new journeys and lives after we leave here, but it’s these little things that strike me, since they really are never coming back. It’s surreal. It’s heartbreaking.

Some things will always remain the same, though. Our basketball coach, Jarvis, will always be the best in Southern California. Mr. Moroaica will always be famous on Snapchat for his “Good Morning” yells. Construction will always be “in progress.” The poor school board will always claim to have “no money.” No one will ever be allowed to speak, move or breath in the library - oh wait, Mrs. Boyarsky retired last year, so scratch that.

But back to the sad reality: This is it. We’re saying goodbye to a wonderful high school that has prepared us impeccably for what we are going to face in the future. This school has been torn down both physically and by us kids seeking out all of its faults. But it’s still taught us so much.

Right now, we’re all stuck smack in the middle of childhood and adulthood. Both sides are still tugging at us, at a time when we need to make so many adult decisions but still have the impulse to do some childish things.

And while some of us have turned 18, we are all still kids at heart.

I know I am.

The thought of soon having to leave a city and friends I have known almost my whole life and grown so close with makes me cry some nights. I’ve talked to a lot of fellow seniors who feel they are not ready for college. I know there is a small part in all of us anxious about the future.

But we’ll get through it. Just like high school.