On August 17, 2020, I started high school at home due to quarantine. After returning to campus in April, four years have now passed by. It’s hard to accept that in June, I’ll say goodbye to the Green and Gold.
Many people could agree that your experiences shape what you become. To me, South Hills is living proof of that. This story is meant to be a memoir of the roads I walked to be able to walk across the graduation stage.
It’s almost cathartic, the fact that I’ve spent so much of my life to get to the point where I am about to go through such an important life goal, I should be excited but I can’t help but feel attached to South Hills.
South Hills has watched me change from somebody who was incredibly pessimistic to somebody excited to come here to learn and somebody who wants to attempt to change the world for the better.
The freshman who survived
Freshman year was an experience. Being unable to attend in-person classes due to the COVID-19 quarantine, I was worried that digital learning would become the new normal. When doing in-person classes, I enjoy being able to connect with my teachers and learning who they are behind the scenes. Being online made me feel as if I was trying to build a connection with a brick wall. Once we were allowed to return in cohorts post-spring break, a lot of my issues were resolved.
The sophomore who fought
My sophomore year was a rough one for me. I had so much happen to me before and during the year. Despite everything, I came to terms with my circumstances and finished the year on a much better path. I was still nowhere near perfect, but it taught me how to forgive and move on. While academics were never a main focus that year, my grades majorly improved from the sorry state they were in freshman year.
The junior who experienced
In my eyes, junior year was my best year of high school. A summer of fun with my friends and a lot of self-reflection, helped me be happier. My favorite memory will always be going to San Francisco for a journalism conference where I learned so much about the journalism world and met a ton of other student journalists.
It was also when I learned that if I wanted something, I had to work for it. If I never had that realization, I would have never become the person I am today.
The senior who learned
Senior year has been a mixed bag. There’s been some good experiences but there’s also been some low points for me. I think overall, this year has taught me the reality of perseverance.
I went to and participated in more events this year than I ever had. These events gave me more time with my friends and allowed me to witness some truly amazing things. My senior year taught me what being a husky was about.
Electives and their impact
Freshman year, I was only allowed one elective class. It took me a while to decide what I’d take but in the end, I settled on joining the Entrepreneurship class and committing to the Business pathway.
It was mainly the Virtual Enterprise (VE) class that I stuck to from the pathway. I loved how it taught me practical skills and how to navigate the business world. It was one of the only things keeping me going to school every day during my sophomore year and I’m grateful it became that. Whenever I think of South Hills, VE will be the first thing I think of.
My other favorite class has to be journalism. It taught me to be more aware of problems and people around me. It’s given me some amazing memories and enabled me to go and experience new places. Writing these articles has also restored my enjoyment of writing as a whole, which I’m incredibly grateful for.
The end
Ultimately, high school has been a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions. For every moment I wanted to drop out, there was an equal moment that made me want to come every day.
I’m not sure how to feel about graduation. It’s exciting and scary because I’m crossing a threshold I won’t be able to walk back from. But on the other hand, it’s time to experience a new era of my life and I’m excited where that will take me.
So, until we meet again, and I cross through the gate into the home of the green and gold. Goodbye to the hills.
– Kaeleb Hanson
