Class President: We're On To the Next One

Four years ago, I stood behind that fence and watched as my oldest brother graduated from Hillsborough High School.  When the speeches began, I thought it was amazing that a student was standing at the podium speaking to his classmates.  I watched as he snapped a picture of the class and thought, “I want to do that”.  I leaned to my mom and asked who was speaking and she said the valedictorian.  That’s when I realized I would not be making a graduation speech.  As I stood and watched the rest of the speakers, I thought, “Wow.  The class of 2007 is graduating, and our class is taking their place.”  And that September we did.  We entered the school not knowing what to expect.  Not knowing that our lives would most definitely change for better, or for worse.  We were constantly told that high school flashes before your eyes, but all we thought was, “Being a freshman stinks, it can’t pass fast enough.”  But it did.  And here we stand, on the day of our graduation, anxiously waiting for the speeches to be over so we can be handed our diplomas we so greatly deserve. 

         But let’s take a minute.  I know we’re all so ready to get out of here.  But just take a moment and think back to when we walked through those doors for the very first time with our little maps of the school.  Trying to act like we knew exactly where we were going, but getting lost the whole first week.  Think back to going to Peer Mentoring.  We told everyone we thought it was lame and just liked getting out of class, but secretly we didn’t mind it.  Our first Hillsborough Halloween passed and then in May, our first Spirit Night.  Famous Freshman.  Well (ha), we tried.  Even if we came in last for everything, it was still an unbelievable experience. 

Then we were no longer the “annoying freshmen”.  We were sophomores.  We became friends with juniors and seniors, and freshman actually looked to us for advice.  We now understood what Halloween really was at Hillsborough and had to try our best to outdo the classic costumes from the year before.  Then Spirit Night came and Sophomore Speedway beat the junior dance.  We were ecstatic.  That was the first moment our grade was able to run into the middle of the gym, as we waited for the results.  The intensity of that moment is unforgettable. 

Then we entered our junior year, finally upper classmen.  We longed for this moment since the first day of freshman year.  But was being an upper classman really so amazing?  September started, and so did PSAT’s, SAT’s, HESPAS, college visits, and the dreaded application process.  “The most important year of high school” they called it, although most of us would consider it the most stressful.  But looking past the school work, junior year was pretty sweet.  We had our first prom, and of course spirit night, where we broke the junior curse with our dance! 

Then school ended, summer passed, and it was our final moment.  September 2010.  Feels like days ago, really.  They weren’t kidding when they said it flies by before you know it.  We walked in on the first day and stood around our comfortable tables in the commons we had grown so familiar with.  Slowly throughout those first few months you heard word of people getting accepted into colleges.  It wasn’t even Christmas yet when Senioritis kicked in for most of us.  We tried to focus but it was so hard knowing graduation was right around the corner.  At midterms we got our first taste of exemption for some of our electives.  And then in May we had our fourth and final Spirit Night.  There was much controversy over the theme Senior Shapeup.  But we rocked the theme, and of course, came out on top.  Our dance was phenomenal, our mural was perfect, and who didn’t die of laughter watching our classes’ video?  When we were announced the winners of not only Spirit Night, but also Spirit Year, we felt like champions.  And we were champs.  This was and still is our house.  Our Senior Prom quickly came and the night was enchanting, it really was.  Then there was what felt like an eternity of school days left.  But in reality only a few more days and then we’d be done. 

I just wanted to take a second and thank my parents for everything they have done for me.  You have been the most supportive parents all these years and I appreciate it more than you know.

         Each year the seniors leave behind a gift for the school.  This year, in efforts to keep our school green, we have purchased more recycling bins for the commons area.  We are ordering landscaping to spice up the front of our building, and donating money for better lighting in the auditorium.  Lastly we have donated $1,500 in charitable donations.

          We are now at the last minutes of our Senior Year.  Soon the speeches will end, we’ll be handed our diplomas, and all these memories will be replaced by new ones.  This turf where we had freshman field day, those bleachers where we cheered on countless football games, and that track where we slaved over way too many run days.  They’ll all be things of the past.  It’s crazy how something that flies by so quickly is jam packed with so much.  We’re graduating, guys!  We are done with this chapter of our lives!  Our class has so much potential to do such amazing things...we really do. * Good luck in your future no matter what you do or where you go.  In the words of Jay-Z, “we’re on to the next one”.  Congratulations class of 2011… we did it!