Hewlett Happenings

Understanding how to cherish life’s changes

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Whenever I expressed my wish for the school year to end to my older friends, their responses often included remarks about time going by much faster than they expected and feeling nostalgic in the end. Despite my desire to complete high school and move on, they all promised me that I would be sad to leave once the ending was near.

With graduation on June 23, I can definitely agree that time went by faster than I thought it would. As cliché as it may sound, it does feel like yesterday was the first day of my senior year. Yet somehow, it also feels like I have matured and grown a lot from the student who started my college applications in the fall.

I have learned to manage more responsibilities this year, and was finally able to step into numerous leadership roles. In my extracurricular activities, including robotics, varsity swimming, and the school newspaper, I was able to teach younger students the way my role models taught me when I was an underclassman. The experiences confirmed my passions, while I was honored to pass down my role to younger students.

My swim coach, Gregg Solnick always yelled at the end of practices “Last one, fast one” and I have found that it applies to not only in the pool, but to life in general. No matter how long we may want the final event to last, it seems to always go by the fastest. Whether it was my last Pep Rally, robotics competition, band concert, swim meet or writing my final column, it seemed to fly by. I am utterly excited to graduate high school, but there are certainly memories that I will remember as I move forward to the next chapter of my life.

Hewlett High School has taught me many things, but I think among them is a particularly important one: if you are going to do something, you might as well do your best. Without putting in 100 percent of my effort and ability, tasks were not enjoyable; they were simply tasks without meaning. When finding a purpose and motivation, everything becomes easier and more exciting. Consequently, time will then move more quickly.

I can’t thank enough all of my teachers and peers throughout the years who have helped shape who I am. Even difficult classes that I may not have enjoyed in the moment truly taught me perseverance. As the Hewlett-Woodmere communities grew, I think I grew with it as I participated in the first Community Garden Learning Center and Arts Below Sunrise Fair amongst other special events.

Above all, I am thankful for the opportunity to write this column, allowing me to be aware of the “happenings” in my community. There is also no better feeling than knowing my voice is heard.

When I begin classes at Dartmouth College in the fall, I expect to be challenged, but I think Hewlett High has prepared me. I know how to communicate and be an active member in society. Although I won’t be able to control the time going by, at least I now know to cherish it before the end is near.