Monday August eighth was my first day of my junior year of high school. I was scheduled to meet with my counselor to discuss how to graduate a semester early. We talked for a little bit and then graduating a year early came up. We both laughed; she layed out what my schedule would be, and we laughed even more. She said that it would be nine rigorous classes and that she didn’t recommend or encourage I do it. I responded with an astounding, “definitely not”.

That afternoon I told my mom what classes I need to sign up for to graduate a semester early, and I told her that she also mentioned graduating a year early and how impossible that would be. My mom asked if I wanted to do that, and I said I didn’t know. A couple of hours before I laughed at the possibility, but something about being the first to take nine classes, doing something that they called impossible stuck with me. I thought about it all day. About the nights I would be studying or doing homework instead of hanging out with my friends, the days that I would have a test or quiz in every class, and how every single school day I would have two classes of every single subject and no electives or free periods. I’m not even sure to this day what made me want to do that, but I know being able to go to LSU was one motivator behind it all.

The next day I went to my counselor and said I wanted to graduate a year early. She tried to talk me out of it, tried to warn me, about what I had in store. Nothing changed my mind though. The administrators had to talk it over and approve of it, and it took about a week before I heard back from them. A week later she cautiously signed me up for all nine classes. She handed me my new schedule and wished me luck. That is the day apart of me died.

My final year of high school started just like that. I then started to appreciate every moment I had left, because unlike most other seniors I was not ready to say goodbye. Now it is April, a month until graduation, and I am still not ready to say goodbye. I’m not ready to say goodbye to the teachers who have supported me all year, to my peers of all grades and most importantly the band. And I’m not looking forward to the day I have to say goodbye, but at times throughout the year I never thought I would get to this day. I never thought I would actually do it, and with every failed test it became more clear to me that I would fail to complete this goal. I would fail to graduate a year early, and all my hard work and late nights would’ve been a complete waste.

Though today I stand here as a senior. I have finished my last test in AP Physics I, my last unit in AP Stat., my 12^th grade lit classes and have B’s in the rest of my classes. I am guaranteed to graduate. It has been a rough year filled with oh so many things, but I survived it all. I have done what not many thought could be done. And on May 20^th it all ends.