Maxwell Bryn

As of now, the “high school experience” hasn’t resonated in me–it still remains a blur of memorable moments and indistinguishable ones. I guess that’s just the brain’s natural process of remembrance. However, every moment–memorable or indistinguishable–shaped me into someone who im proud to identify with today.

Some events were more vital than others. The first that I can recall, in fact, was my very first day of high school. In short, it was horrific. Terribly horrific. This was my doing though, and I take full responsibility for it. I walked into the 9th grade center with absolute distaste for my situation; I transferred to a school in which I knew no one, emerging into a phase of my life were other bragged about their whole life plans, but I had none. However, my first day of high school was bad because of me. I let the situation debilitate me. Not enable me. What I’m trying to broadcast is that highschool is what you make it. If you have nothing but bad expectations, you’ll only receive negative output. You have to embrace this four year experience.

I learned that quickly. Moving forward, every day became a new opportunity to learn more. I became enthralled with my classes, pursuing knowledge at every single possible moment. I learned how to become sociable with others, and I flowered. I pushed myself and the boundaries around me just to see what’s there. I think the biggest enabler for this was newspaper.

I signed up for newspaper my senior year, and even though late into my high school ‘blur’, I felt as if resonated the most. It was the first time that I wasn’t working for the high school, but the high school was working with me. Newspaper enabled me to succeed in a realm of my interests. My positions as arts and entertainment editor and comic creator reflect this. With the outlet utilized through newspaper, I was able to create magnificent work that I’m proud to call my own. This is making high school yours. It all matters. Even the insignificant things–they matter. Why? Because each and every experience shapes you, just like they all shaped me.