My Wish for You...

 As I approach graduation, I've been reflecting on just what it is I gained from my high school experience. Was it purely academic knowledge that I received? Did I only participate in activities and sports to have something to fill time? What was it that I really took away from four years of high school? Sure, I did acquire a wealth of academic knowledge (hence why Judge is a "college preparatory" school), and yes, being involved was one of the best parts about high school, but I believe my high school experience was more than just that. I believe over my four years of high school I learned many invaluable lessons that no textbook, soccer coach, math problem, or voice instructor gave me. Amongst those lessons, one word comes to mind-embrace. High school taught me to embrace life as it comes, to embrace the relationships, challenges, hardships, celebrations, and everything in between that life can throw at you. I learned in high school that many things, well, most things, don't come as planned. No matter how planned out one can have his/her life, things are bound to get changed somewhere, sometime. But I've learned to embrace those changes. Doing so can introduce opportunities unimaginable. Opportunities often come through people. And by embracing new relationships, with new types of people, people different and the same from oneself, can come life-changing experiences. There are so many things that can happen in one's life that could cause frustration or unhappiness. I learned through my high school experiences that in order to be a happy person, one must embrace whatever life may throw. Sometimes, the most unexpected curve balls, can turn into the most unforgettable blessings. So, my advice to any freshman, or current students in high school: Embrace what high school has to offer. It may not be planned, and it may not all be "good", but in aiming to see the positive in any situation, one can only reap the benefits to follow.