My writing represents me and my school

I have been looking forward to this year since my first graduation, from pre-kindergarten, 14 years ago. I remember seeing my mother and father so proud that I was moving forward, even if it was just to another hallway. That pride, which practically seeped through their smiles, is all I want to recreate come next June.

Lawrence Woodmere Academy is all I’ve known. Its academically stimulating environment has allowed me to develop determination in everything that I do. I am from Rosedale and my parents are immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, a tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela. Being the first American born in my family, I was given by my parents the opportunities I needed to succeed, including an amazing education, a close-knit home and constant emphasis on the importance of giving back.

Being a senior, there is a sense of sentimentality hanging over every moment I spend in school. Whether on the varsity softball field in the spring or planning Homecoming events and our fall dance, I never think twice about extending myself for the betterment of my school. I am class president, a part of Multicultural and Dance club, a Model United Nations participant, yearbook staff member and a rigorous student, and I have never been more grateful for the opportunities LWA has provided. Rarely will you find me without a journal or a book whose pages are as worn as the Pointe shoes in my dance bag.

Representing a school that prides itself on its integrity isn’t something I take lightly. I hope in my writing to embody the core values that it so strongly promotes: truth, integrity and service. My home is no different: my family is big and my house is always full. Loud, kind and loving are not just for Thanksgiving dinners but for Saturdays when my mother is bored. My parents have raised me with values that reflect and coordinate with the ones I embody at school: respect, integrity and confidence. I was taught to appreciate my mind and myself, and that confidence is the key to success, respect is another

Hopefully in the future I can find an outlet that is creatively stimulating. As of now, I am hoping to pursue a degree in advertising with a psychology minor on a pre-law track. These courses all allow me to express my creativity while maintaining a sense of structure, and incorporate all my interests. I am excited that there is a world full of chances to take and mistakes to make and learn from. I am ready to meet new perspectives in the form of new friends.

As a student-columnist for the coming year, I want my writing to be progressive, because I strongly believe that success is not the amount of minds you change but in the ability to significantly affect one. I want to accurately portray what it means to have an open mind and firm grasp on a situation. I want to eloquently express my opinions and be able to share them with you, a community I trust.