So on May 31, 2013 I, Rebecca Tapp, graduated high school. It is still pretty sketchy in my mind how exactly that night went due to all of the anxiety causing it to be a blur, but I know that I graduated.
So here it is, the part two: my senior year.
I started off my senior year not knowing where was going to college, being on three different publications, two of which that would take up a lot of my time. Not only this, but I had my boyfriend, Brandon, was going into his freshman year of college. On top of all of that, it was my last year of high school…
From the football games to prom, senior year was full of fun and interesting experiences. As in all times of recency, there are a lot of memories one has. There are no real words that I can say to amount to how my senior year has impacted me, so instead I decided to put in my senior goodbye from shsnewsbureau.com:
Wow. This is it. The end of high school is finally here!
Cliché to think, right?
The reality of the fact that your life is about to drastically change is something that you can’t really help think about. In fact, it’s kind of scary. I’m going to be moving an hour and a half away from my family and the surroundings that I’ve known the past 18 years of my life. And at the same time, I can’t help but look back at all of the memories and life lessons I have gained over the past four years. Memories like joking around at the lunch table with friends, taking journalism and photojournalism (when they were still separate classes) from the crazy, energetic teacher that looks like George Clooney my freshman year, which led to joining the Journal and Bureau staffs, etc. All of these events have made my high school experience unique. And not only that, but they made me who I am today. Again, cliché, but it’s true.
I wouldn’t be who I am today without publications. Joining Journal brought me out of my shell so much. I was so quiet and reserved before halfway through my sophomore year, but because of Journal, I am more outgoing. Also because of Journal, I had the honor of meeting my favorite teacher, Mr. Michael Klopfenstein. He became one of the most influential people in my life over the past four years. He has taught me a lot about growing up and responsibility. The fact that he was another father-like-figure in my life is reason as to why I can honestly say that he will be one of the people I remember most after high school. He is the hyper and sarcastic teacher that can juggle coaching baseball, teaching classes, and advising two publications that most students can easily connect to and relate to. He will be one of the teachers that I make sure to come back and visit.
High school is one of the most roller coaster times of your life, but it’s worth it. You grow up a lot and learn things you never thought you’d learn. You will experience stress and late nights, but it’s part of the experience. Take it all in, because you can ask any of us who are about to walk across the stage in less than a month, it goes by fast.
The most important piece of advice I can give is this:
Get involved.
Get involved in things that you have an interest in because there you will learn to branch out and meet new friends and teachers. Whether it’s theater, sports, publications, anything, join because you will make friends that you normally might not have met otherwise. Joining publications was one of the best choices I made in high school. Not only did it bring me out of my shell and help me mature, but it also let me make connections with faculty, administration and other students. It showed me that I can assume responsibility and make a good product that I can be proud of.
I’m proud to have worked on these publications the past three years and am really going to miss it.
If I had to say one last thing about Southport, it would be this:
Even though you already can’t wait to get out, even though construction can be annoying and even though the hallways are really crowded, it’s not as bad as you think. You’ll make it. Don’t wish it away.
I’m not going to lie, I’ll miss Southport. I’ll miss seeing my friends every day in the halls. I’ll miss going to my best friend’s locker at the end of the day and seeing her. I’ll even miss Mr. K’s witty commentary and splurs, but it’s all memories that I will take with me. I’ll miss Southport, but I’m really excited to see what Ball State, and my future, has in store for me.
So that’s it, I’m officially done with high school. Done with most of the people I have known for the past 12 years of my life. Done with the teachers I have grown to admire the past four. But two things that I am not done with are journalism and photography. Those are two things I will never, ever, be done with.
So here is to the next step of my life: the reality of college.
Becca Tapp 