When we’re little, we all want to grow up to be something special right? I know my aspiration in elementary school was to a successful high school student. There was this image in my head that never went away of a gorgeous, well-dressed, high school student council president, who maintained a 4.0 GPA, well-known with close acquaintances, and great friends. Never would my 8 year old self know how difficult that is until we had reached the ninth grade.

I found out through a conversation with one of the amicable school counselors I am lucky enough to have. She didn’t prod at me like a science experiment or pick at me like another student she needed to get out of her office to move on with her day, but she was interested in what I had to say. She wanted to know who I was as the person behind the grades and the test scores and in this hour conversation, I discovered more about myself than I had even dared to think about in a long time.

After realizing this, I quickly realized that, maybe, that’s what senior year is about for me. A year of realization.

I realized, that image I had as a little girl is never going to happen to me. My personality is a “either you love me or you hate me” type of deal.

But, I also realized, that I’m a high school senior at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School with a 3.677 GPA. I’ve founded a spoken word group, which is becoming really successful. I’ve been nominated for the Governor’s Honors Program, twice, and was once a State Semi-Finalist. I’ve taken 5 AP Classes so far in my high school career, while also being in musical theater and the advanced acting class (which could easily be paralleled to job… one that requires your attention at all hours of the day). I’m in inducted into 3 Honor Societies, a math tutor, and on the church board. An ambassador for this really cool app, I even dabbled a little in marketing/sales and business. I’m not a level 4 or 5 dancer, but I do see myself as accomplished in that field, I’ve made my way back to piano, I’m busy every single day of the week. I’ve accomplished more in my four years of high school than I would have thought would even be possible or in my reach when I was coming out of middle school.

Many times, people would like to take credit where it is not due. People will want to take credit for other’s accomplishments, actions, personalities or even the people that they have become. When looking back from where I come from and after that wonderful conversation I had with my high school counselor, I realized, I never would have gotten this far if that dream of who I wanted to be had not pushed me to do so. I thank everyone who has helped me and guided me thus far, but, I’d hate for anyone to try to snatch away my new found sense of accomplishment for myself.

I remember where I come from, who I am, and who has helped me get there, but my biggest realization is discovery. I’m not done yet, and my high school counselor has brought to my attention that the year that is supposed to begin my life, is nothing less than a year of discovery.