For the past 12 or so years of my life, it was largely accepted to “hate” being at school. The classes, the homework or just the idea of being there was enough to unite people in that common thought.
As I’ve gotten older, bonds that started with the “I hate school” conversation turned into deeper relationships that I held onto. People that I’ve become friends with that way have stayed with me throughout the years and, before I knew it, a 10 year long friendship greets me in the hallway with “I’m too tired to be here.”
It’s easy in day-to-day life to forget how long you know someone. Now in my senior year, I look at my class and see many faces that I can remember from elementary school. I often think about life after high school, and how, in a few short months, I won’t see the majority of the people I have passed by in the hallways my whole life ever again. With some people, I’ve begun to have these conversations. “What are your plans after high school” spark the realization that we are going down completely different paths, and it is likely that they won’t cross.
It seems cruel, in one way, for it to be normal to see someone all day every day for 12 years and then just wave goodbye and that be it. If I decide to stay in St. Charles the rest of my life, there’s a chance I’ll see an old eight year friendship in the grocery store somewhere down the line and wonder if I should say hi- even though in high school it was a no-brainer.
These people that I have been forcefully surrounded by for up to 12 years have seen me grow up. They’ve seen all the phases I’ve gone through, all the friend groups I’ve been a part of, all the interests I’ve had. Many of them didn’t just observe, but played a part in making me who I am today.
Not just my best friends have had an impact, but friends that I only see in one of my classes or at lunch. Maybe even people I only see in the hallway. Whether we were united with the same course, or the same route during passing period, I saw them almost every day for the year.
Whether I like it or not, the people I’ve known since Kindergarten have seen my best and worst moments by this time in my life. The reality is, though, that life is just starting for me- there will be many more “bests” and “worsts” that I’ll share with other people down the road. Everyone will be on completely different paths five years from now, but there still remains a bond between everyone in my class who grew up together, even if it was invisible up until now.
