Walking across the Siegel Center stage and receiving my diploma marked a milestone of this girl's life. It’s a definite time of reflection as I look back on the past four years of life, and it’s been a whirlwind for sure! I’ve had good times and some not-so-good.
Freshmen year I was at Steward. As an avid concert-going “emo” kid, I tried hard to be unlike the other roughly 25 girls in my class. Freshmen year is rather hazy to me now, but all I can clearly remember is the fact that I wore the same shoes EVERY single day.
Sophomore year, I was simply low and disheartened. I made a mistake that impacted the rest of my high school career. And at this time in 2009, I met my best friend (even though she’s 16 years older than me!) and second-mom, Nicole Unice. This woman helped me though the next three years filled with turbulent realities and emotions.
Then came junior year, and at this point, the downturn economy spurred the move to public school. After being in a bubble of safe and secure, I was thrown into a school with 2000 students. It was terrifying and intimidating, yet so entirely beneficial. Although thrown into an experience with so many uncertainties, I learned so much that will forever benefit my future. I believe that public school gave me a much better understanding of “real world.”
Finally came senior year, which was a challenge to say the least. School started less than 2 months after my car accident and traumatic brain injury. I was in and out of doctors’ offices almost weekly up until December. And I’d say that August-December were so incredibly difficult. I can remember late night phone calls with Nicole, pouring my heart out about the pains and burdens that came with my brain injury, most notably not being allowed to drive. But I’m here today on June 13, diploma in hand!
I am sure different than I used to be, but I am far from who I'm meant to be.
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