Dear high school,

I would be lying if I said I missed you. The reality is that I don't miss waking up at 6 a.m. every morning and sitting at a desk for seven hours learning about subjects I couldn't care less about (sorry math teachers.) I'm happy to be done with that stage of my life and now be able to pursue my interests in college. The freedom college offers is incomparable to what you offered. Every time I make a schedule and don't see a math class on there, my heart does a little happy dance (again, sorry math teachers.) While I don't miss you, I can't deny that you were an important four years of my life.

There's no doubt that you had your issues. What high school doesn't? You held remarkably high expectations for students to the point that they would develop mental illnesses. Those who struggled with mental illness, whether as a result of academic stress or not, were often invisible because it was just something not spoken about. Just like how LGBTQ+ identities weren't discussed in health classes and the drug problems were only whispered rumors in your halls. One of the favorite teachers among students proudly displayed a "Vote Yes" button from Minnesota for Marriage on their desk—a symbol that made myself and other LGBTQ+ students uncomfortable in her classroom. You had a long way to go when I graduated, and I hear you're working on these issues, but there is still room for improvement.

Despite your flaws, I'm still grateful for you. I'm so thankful for the opportunities you presented to me, in both academics and extracurricular activities. From the vast amount of classes and over a hundred clubs to choose from, there was the chance to explore different interests and meet new people.The rigorous curriculum prepared me well for college courses. Without the in-depth lessons on structuring and writing papers, I would not be able to have had the success I've had so far in college. I am most grateful for the people I met. I was fortunate to have some truly remarkable teachers who inspired me to be a better person and a better student. Then, of course, my amazing friends whom I'm still friends with today. I don't know what I would have done without them as we went through the highs and lows of classes—crushes, drama, dances, and everything else life threw at us when we were just teens. My friends were the best gift I received in those four years and I will never be able to completely express how incredibly grateful I am to have them.

So thank you high school for the wonderful lessons and memories, but I'm still so glad I never have to step foot in your halls again.

Sincerely,

Your alumnus