The first day of school from kindergarten all the way up until senior year started the same for me…a super embarrassing picture my parents took at my front door, seconds before I left the house which eventually ended up on their Facebook or Instagram pages. Each year, the pictures looked different. Sometimes because I grew, or because my hair was shorter, or you flat out could tell that I didn’t set an alarm early enough. The one thing that stayed the same however, was my giant, squinty-eyed smile.
Walking down the hallways of LM my first couple weeks of high school were nothing short of daunting. Upperclassmen staring you down, not knowing where you’re going, all of that super stereotypical high school stuff. Eventually, I learned that it really isn’t that bad – all thanks to the friendly faces I saw in those hallways. Being new to LM and going into my freshman year without knowing anyone was super intimidating. As time went on, I found myself an awesome group of friends and became used to smiling at or saying hi to people I knew in the halls. The more comfortable I got, the more the list of people I said hi to grew, and by the end of the year I was exchanging smiles with people all the way up until the bell rang. There are some people that I haven’t actually caught up with in years but still exchange a smile with on my route to class because well… why not?!
Even if I only talked to someone once in one of my classes, I remembered that there is no shame in saying hi or smiling at people-I mean really, what’s the worst that can happen? They look at you? Perfect, now you have a hilarious story to tell. High school taught me to not take everything so seriously, especially little things like that. Know that you are doing the right thing and don’t stop because you feel awkward or uncomfortable.
There are a handful of lessons I have taken away from my high school experience, many of which I will carry for the rest of my life. Being kind and being confident are the two most important though. In four years, I went from not knowing anyone and sitting in class by myself to running two whole-school pep rallies, reading our morning announcements, and being the teammate with the intense pregame speeches. All of this done with my big, squinty eyed smile.
As my high school experience is coming to a close, there are a handful of emotions that are going through my body. It’s crazy to think that I have to leave what’s been my home these past four years. Thank you to those who have shared their smiles with me, even if they were in passing. They mean more to me than you know (especially on days when mine wasn’t too big itself). And to whoever is reading this, don’t be afraid to smile. It has the power to light up a room and make someone’s day.
I am forever grateful to be a part of Aces Nation, this place is special. Beat Radnor and Go Aces!
