Malcolm X once said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”  I had the privilege to attend Revere and learn from teachers who taught me everything I know today. While I never found it easy to make friends or participate in sports, I always found safety and security in the pursuit of knowledge and writing. 

When I joined Lantern in my junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to write freely, but with a price, as I had to interview strangers and various people around the school. It was at  first a startling experience, but I eventually became accustomed to interviews and talking to people that I did not know. Experiences like Lantern and writing articles helped me through the toughest parts of high school. I found community among unexpected people. During the recent OSMA competition, I celebrated the awards of the Lantern and felt such genuine excitement for the wins of people I barely knew years prior. 

We had the collective struggle of COVID-19 and the mental tolls that accompanied it. We had to cope with loneliness and navigate the confusions of adolescence. The advice I’d give to those entering high school is to be informed about the classes you will be taking. Always prioritize your health, whether it’s mental or physical, whenever you choose your path in life. 

Benjamin Franklin wrote, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Always take advantage of what is given to you and be grateful for it. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t let go of such opportunities when I was younger and I have many regrets. I’ve learned to take these regrets and grow with them and use them to motivate myself to seize every available opportunity. 

The high school experience is based on how each individual decides to face it. I will miss the time I spent here, but I am glad to leave behind the high school version of myself. I want to thank the people that have always supported me: my brother, my parents, and the teachers and counselors who I sought help from often. Revere motivated me to work hard and push myself academically. I hope I can take this drive and focus as I live on as an improved version of myself.