As my four years at Tualatin High School come to an end, a lot has changed, from sitting behind a screen all day to avoiding screens at all cost, and from extreme procrastination to extreme productivity. However, one thing has stayed constant through the sleepless nights and severe burnout: my ability to stick with things.
As funny as it sounds, my first day of in-person high school was daunting, merely because of newspaper, a class I put at the very end of my elective list, confidently believing I wouldn’t be placed in it. Before stepping into newspaper, I was certain I would be dropping, especially due to the fact I didn’t have a single friend in the class. Fortunately, while facing one of the most awkward moments of my life, I saw a now-close friend who, at this point I had maybe talked to a few times, walk in and claim the class wasn’t all that bad. On a whim, I decided to listen to him and continue showing up rather than run away from my problems.
After three years, I can confidently say embracing this opportunity and many others has not only put me outside my comfort zone, but also helped overcome my fear of failure. The act of just showing up has led to the creation of The Wolf’s marketing department, becoming editor-in-chief and president of multiple clubs and generating over six figures of income for these organizations in high school.
Looking back, much of what I did in high school wasn’t my intention and was driven by the fear that pushed me to say no; however, I don’t regret a single thing. While at times it feels like I didn’t learn anything, various dimensions of my life have been enhanced. Most importantly, I have learned that I thrive under pressure, and that an entire semester can, in fact, be done in a few weeks.
As a Class of 2024 valedictorian, I can say with great confidence that simply showing up will become your biggest advantage as opportunities continue to emerge and push you towards the impossible.
