Over the course of high school, I definitely learned a lot, I just happened to forget most of it. I do know one thing: The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. I'm not really sure what that means, something to do with protein, but that is the one thing I can say with confidence that will stay in my brain from high school.

The goal of this article is not to bad-mouth the inefficient public schooling system or any specific teachers, but to focus on the high-school experience itself. When I say "experience," I truly mean it because high school has definitely been the most wild four years of my life so far. It makes me wonder how much more can happen in college and beyond. I entered CHS as a freshman with about one real friend that I actually hung out with. I'm now graduating with such a large network of people, it is a little hard to grasp I won't see a lot of them come this fall. It will take some getting used to, sure, but I am excited to see familiar faces in college at UNH and make new friends in a new place. That same thought spawns something else in my brain. Who am I actually going to keep in touch with after summer ends?

The friends I formed in high school have been with me for years now and we have spent so much time together it seems almost impossible I won't be able to take the car out and stop by their house when I'm bored. Also, what about the people I have only recently been able to get to know in my senior year? This year I have expanded my group of friends farther than it has ever reached, and I fear that once I leave, my ties to home will slowly break until it is just my direct family.

I think I know of at least three people that I will be able to keep as good friends when moving day arrives and that saddens me. It is sad to know that all these people that have been such a positive influence on me this year and the last three will leave my life. The thought that comes to mind in consequence of this: nothing lasts forever.

Nothing lasts forever.

An incredibly large cliché, I know, but it is unfortunately true. So, when things seem to be going your way understand, all things are fragile and must handled with care. One wrong move could have you somewhere far worse than unfortunate. That is a grim thought, but this is not my intention. If something is meant to come to a close and all things eventually will, try to make the thing worth it while it lasts. If you come out the other side better or worse is determined by how you look at it. Will you be grim and bitter and have the memories formed with someone at some place be tainted by some unfortunate happenstance? Or will you let what happens happen and keep the happy thoughts formed in the past?

I know even if I do not see many of the people I call friends now in the future I will be sad, but the memories I created with them will keep whatever we shared more vibrant and alive than when I lived it.